Christians get tripped up two ways:
(1) By our fleshly desires: lust, gluttony, pride, envy, laziness, unforgiveness, jealousy, etc.,
And
(2) By the lies of the devil.
But many of us do not take #2 seriously. Most of us figure that we are nobody special, so the devil would not waste his time on us.
But the devil has thousands of fallen angels working for him. There are a few set aside just for you. Really.
The second thing to understand is that the devil has some knowledge of the future. He is not omniscient like God. But He knows enough to recognize the threat that you are. He knows what God plans to do with you. Maybe you will lead one child to faith. Maybe your son will be the next Billy Graham. We don’t know. But the enemy knows—and he and his minions (that’s the real word) are working to ensure that you will never experience the future God has planned for you.
Please don’t be deceived. Don’t assume there is no enemy. Don’t tell yourself he exists but doesn’t care about you. His plan is to hurt God, whom he hates, and the only way he can hurt God is by hurting God’s people. That means you. Yes, you do have an enemy.
He whispers lies to you and disguises them as YOUR THOUGHTS.
Begin opening your mind to the reality that some of your “thoughts” are being spoken into your mind by your enemy.
“Be ON THE ALERT, sober in spirit, knowing that your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone whom he may devour. But resist him, standing firm in the faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are throughout the world” 1 Peter 5:8-9.
Bonus: You know what happens when you resist (as mentioned above)?
“Resist the devil and he will FLEE from you.” James 4:7.
Ask God to help you recognize the lies the enemy is whispering in your ear, and to resist those lies.
Don’t think it’s all just you (#1 above). Always remember you have an enemy. And he has a plan to destroy you. Don’t listen to his lies.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 