Most Caring Lord, You have warned me about an enemy that You faced, and I will face, who wants to lead me away from the only “True God.” This is what the Scriptures tell me about him and his cohorts:
Luke 4:2 Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil (in all things You were human.)
Mt 13:39 The enemy who sows them (weeds aka temptation & deceit among good seed) is the devil.
Luke 8:12 Those along the path (good seeds) are those who hear the word and then the devil comes and takes it away.
I Peter 5:8 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Eph 6:12 For our struggles is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and power of the dark world and spiritual powers of evil.
Rev 12:12 He (the devil) is filled with fury because he (the devil) knows his (the devil) time is short.
Fortunately, You did not leave me defenseless to withstand the attacks and deceitful schemes of my enemy. Here is what Your Word tells me about defending myself from this enemy:
Submit to God/Resist the devil (James 4:7-8) Your Word tells me that in the end, You win and the devil ends up in Hell. However, he is here now and is trying to win me over to his evil causes. Instead of listening, I must yield to Your authority and do Your will. I must resist Satan’s enticements and walk in Your ways. I must work with the Holy Spirit to replace his sinful desires with my desire to please You.
Flee from evil desires (II Tim 2:26) I must emulate the things You lived by … righteousness, love, justice, and peace. I must absorb the truth rather than allow it to be perverted. Confusion must not separate me from You. I should seek other believers, the Holy Spirit, and Your Word to keep my thinking straight. I must stay away from the things, people and places that lead me to sin.
Be self-controlled & alert (I Pet 5:8) I must watch out when I suffer or undergo stressful times. When I feel alone, weak, helpless and cut-off, I get so focused on my troubles that I forget to watch out for trouble. At these times I am particularly vulnerable to Satan’s ploys. I must seek out the support of other believers, keep my eyes on You and stay sensitive for negative or deceptive thoughts.
Put on armor & pray (Eph 6:12) In times of attack, I must depend on Your strength and use every piece of God’s armor (belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the Gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit). I must realize that I are constantly on a battlefield. I must get into the habit of quick, brief prayers in response to every situation I encounter in my day. My prayer must not only be for a change in my situation but that You will accomplish Your will in me.
And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!