Satan attacks me a lot in the same ways. It’s crazy because it always feels different. Before I realize what’s really going on, before I notice it’s a trick… It feels like something new. I know it may sound crazy, but even though the approach is different, the strategy is really similar. He gets in my head about certain things. He presents me with things that I want… things that I REALLY want. It may look or feel harmless, but then I find myself struggling unnecessarily because I’ve allowed the enemy in a place where he shouldn’t have had access. I’ve fallen for the trick of Satan so many times, I’m a bit ashamed to admit it. Yet… I think that my shortcomings can still bring glory to God. They can still help someone else. There’s an old saying that there is nothing new under the sun. As I look at my life and as I watch the news and read the various reports that are given. As I look at Facebook and other social media outlets, I say that saying is actually true.
The strategies are the same. The outcomes are the same. The approaches are different. Slightly… but still different. One thing that I have learned about Satan and his army is that they know us better than we know ourselves. They know what we want before we know what we want. They know what will entice us. They know what will tempt us. They know how to make us fall. That’s a tough enemy to have! It seems like and feels like we will never win… and apart from God, that’s totally true! We can’t win without God. We need Him to help us. To expose the enemy to us. To fight our battles for us. In the last week, I’ve read about the murders of the Charleston 9, their funerals, murders around the country, arguments surrounding the legalization of gay marriage, and most recently, the several black churches among the south that have been set on fire in the last few days. One thing is for sure: We are certainly under attack.
Satan has used an identity crises to slow down the body of Christ. He finds new ways to make us ignorant of ourselves and our own ability because if we truly knew ourselves and the power that we possess, it would be much easier to expose him. We would be able to identify a trick that he could be disguising as a blessing. We would be able to call him out on the issues that he may be trying to hide behind something that’s attractive to you… we’d know. A lot of times we struggle against the same issues because of how well Satan knows us and how little we actually know ourselves… I speak from experience. As someone who is still figuring some things out about life and my purpose, I’ve realized that I can’t let my guard down. As a Christian Man who’s actively trying to spread the good news of Jesus Christ… I just can’t. Because Satan knows me very well and is willing to pounce at every opportunity to tear me down. That’s the same with the body of Christ as a whole. We CANNOT be distracted by silly issues that have disguised themselves as important when all they are really doing is pulling us further and further away from our God-given purposes. We all have one. These things that have been going on in our society have been trying to pull us away from what we really need to be focusing on: Being a light in this world.
**Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) - For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.**
This is all an attack. Very elaborate. Very detailed… but it’s an attack. This same chapter of scripture tells us how to prepare and defend ourselves against such attacks: The Full Armor of God.
The Belt of truth. The body armor of God’s righteousness. Peace that comes from the Good News and keeps us prepared. The shield of Faith to stop the fiery arrows of the enemy. The Helmet of Salvation, The sword of the Spirit- The Word of God.- The Full Armor of God.
Verse 18 gives us the most important of all of the instructions. In my opinion, we need this to even begin to activate the rest of the Full Armor of God. We are instructed to pray in the spirit in every situation. We are instructed to stay alert and to be PERSISTENT. As an artist, I've read quite a few books. and a few of the ones that discuss developing a brand, establishing a business mind, marketing, etc… they remind me that consistency is key.
We struggle from the same things over and over again because our prayer life is inconsistent. We are fooled by the same things because our prayer life is inconsistent. We are so easily distracted because our Prayer life is inconsistent. Our prayer life is inconsistent and it weakens our armor. When we don’t spend time in prayer, our faith grows weak so we can’t fight off the fiery arrows of the enemy. We set our salvation to the side and we leave our minds vulnerable to tricks from Satan. We don’t read the word of God therefore we lack a sword, a weapon to fight of the enemy.
Now is not the time to grow weary. We have to stay the course and not fall victim to the tricks that Satan has put out there for us! We are under attack. We have to take the right approach in order to defeat Satan and his army. We have to follow and trust God.