Winning the Invisible War

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.
- 1 Peter 5:8-9

I love to compete. One of my favorite things to do on Saturday mornings is to get on the basketball court with the men from church and slam into each other, sweating and playing hard. To the battle!

But more important than any dumb basketball game is the battle in our spiritual lives. The sad fact is that many Christians are oblivious to the warfare that goes on all the time against Satan and his demonic forces. Sometimes the enemy of our souls puts you in his crosshairs. Satan does this because he hates you. He would devour you this second if he could. If he can get you off track in any way, then he keeps you from working for the One you love.

Some enemies use scatterguns. They point and shoot, knowing the shrapnel will go wide. Not Satan; He targets us with a laser gun. He customizes his attack to our specific area of weakness. Be on guard to destructive strategies like these that he uses to get access to your life:

Satan plants lies in your thoughts. If you’ve ever doubted the security of your salvation, the reality of God’s forgiveness, or the passing pleasures of this world, most likely the devil has distorted what God says is true. Never forget he is a liar.

Satan steals God’s Word that has been sown in your heart. Before you have a chance to apply it, Satan snatches your understanding away like a bird grabs a seed. That’s why it’s important not only to hear God’s Word but also to be quick about doing what it says.

Satan accuses you before God. He is working very hard to have you condemned. Even the name devil means “slanderer.” He says to God, “See that! How could you forgive that?” And he’s right. Of course Satan is not able to make the charges stick because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Jesus says, “I paid for that sin. My blood covers it.” That’s why there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

Here’s the good news. The victory in this war has already been declared . . . and you’re on the winning side. But to live in that victory, let God’s Word be your sword in battle.