1 Peter 5:8 proclaims that the devil is sort of a prowling lion waiting for somebody to devour, while John 10:10 says the enemy is at all times out, able to steal, kill, and destroy. This is why James 4:7 tells us to withstand the devil, and he’ll flee from us; Proverbs 4:23 commands us to protect our hearts and minds, and Ephesians 6:11-12 calls for us to placed on the complete armor of God. We must recognize that we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood but against cosmic forces, present darkness, and an evil spiritual realm.
“Stay alert! Watch out in your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to provide them a wealthy and satisfying life.” – John 10:10
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he’ll flee from you.” – James 4:7
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you’re going to find a way to face firm against all strategies of the devil. For we usually are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers on this dark world, and against evil spirits within the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:11-12
The Bible doesn’t gloss over the difficulty of spiritual warfare. In fact, it tells us that there’s a continuous war occurring between good and evil. Satan could have chosen to be sinfully prideful, but his rise up against God has cost humanity an ideal deal of turmoil ever since. The evil agenda consists of slowly leading us away from God, distorting His plan and purpose in our lives, and holding the malicious intent to achieve our souls. Satan and his minions do that by moving into our minds, binding up our hearts, torturing us physically, and breaking us until we crumble spiritually.
This is a really serious matter, so we must remain vigilant and pay attention to the enemy’s tactics. If you’re wondering when you (or your loved ones) are within the midst of spiritual war, perhaps start with the straightforward query my youngest posed on the dinner table, “If you’re keen on Jesus, why are you behaving in a different way, believing lies, or feeling overwhelmed and exhausted all (or most) the time?” The truth of the matter is the devil has his eye on you due to your faith, not your lack of it, so don’t succumb to is trickery.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Llona Pietrolongo
