The devil is real, and he is our enemy

Whether we like it or not, we are in a war with the devil. Being a child of God automatically makes you Satan’s enemy. The devil will do his best to torment you and I, without reserve. He attempts to kill our hopes and dreams, steal our joy, and destroy our families, relationships, and lives. We’ve all been given a specific purpose in life, but the devil will make many attempts to knock us off course, so that we don’t ever reach our God-given calling. Any time we are close to salvation, becoming free from bondage, or knowing God’s truth, the devil and his army will move in to distort the truth, blur our understanding, and put lying and deceitful thoughts in our minds. He is the Father of Lies (John 8:44) and works continuously to keep us blinded. He has dedicated his entire being to assaulting and destroying God’s children. Even if you haven’t accepted being a member of God’s family, Satan will still lie to you, tempt you, and keep you in bondage; he just doesn’t have to work as hard, because when you don’t know who you are in Christ, you are not only uninformed of what being a child of God means; you are unprepared for the war, and unaware of your future. You are also without God’s protection and power, as well as unacquainted with other believers and the family of God. There’s a special feeling I get when I worship with other believers at a Christian concert. These people are from everywhere, with all different backgrounds, yet we all share the love of Christ. It doesn’t matter if we’re Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, or Evangelical. We are a joyful family of God, coming in unity to give God the praise and worship He is worthy of. There’s something amazing about knowing that we are not alone, but in it together. We may be spread out across the world, but something magical happens when we all come together in unity. If you don’t know Christ, how will you know how to fight the enemy? You cannot, you are already defeated; yet, God has given us (his children) weapons to defeat the enemy. Hosea 4:6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge. If you don’t know you have an evil force working against you, how can you fight it? It is important to know who your natural enemy is and how to fight him. The Bible says, we are not ignorant of the enemy’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). I am not ignorant of them, are you? We’re told to be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). When believers experience conflicts and problems, we know that the enemy is at work, and it’s a sign to go to the Father because he has all knowledge, power, and wisdom. We must go to God, we cannot do it alone. Let’s look at John 10. Verse 4-5 says, 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice Then in verse 10 it goes on to say, 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Do you want to have life to the full, or be destroyed, undefeated, and miserable? The enemy wants to lead you astray from God and this truth, but following Christ will never lead you astray. We need to make it a habit to follow Christ, and to constantly seek God. Let me give you an example, when my two-year old is around new people, she is very cautious. When they ask to hold or hug her, she most always runs to me or her father. She refused to go to them because she doesn’t know who they are. Like children, our first instinct should be to go to the Father. If we are facing something unfamiliar or difficult, or our gut says something isn't right, we need to go to our Father, to seek the Father’s guidance and protection. That is why it is important to build your relationship to God and get to know him, so you can receive his unlimited help and limitless power. He will also teach you how to defeat the schemes of Satan and his army, not only defensively but offensively (we will talk more about this in another post). When we are in trouble, there is a refuge and safe shelter. Knowing this, why would you not seek that shelter?

I love my friends and family; they are all beautiful and make life vibrant, yet they are from all walks of life. Some are believers, some are not. However, I can honestly say that the ones who have God in their lives experience a lot more peace than the ones who try to deal with their problems and issues without God. Believers still have problems, but they live with the faith that God is fighting for them, and are even comforted during their times of grief. As for those who don’t know God, they usually don’t have hope. They are problem focused, pessimistic, and don't see a way out. They may think that other people are the cause of their issues and blame others for all their problems. They are unaware of their real enemy. I pray for these individuals to see the truth~ If only they could see the enemy working in their lives, and give their problems up to God! If only they would rest and let God fight for them! Believers are not immune to problems, but I’d much rather go through the roller coaster of of life with God, than without. So what are you waiting for? Don't think that you can stay off the enemy's radar; remember that he's the real enemy. As believers, we will still cry, grieve, and experience pain and sadness, but God is faithful and the only way to victory. We don't need to be unaware, unacquainted, unprepared, and uniformed because our future with God is already established. In the last days, we will be with Him. Get out of the bondage and start living life to the full. Go on, call out to God; He is waiting.

Let us pray.

Father God,

Thank you for all the readers and for warning us of the devil's schemes, and for showing us how he works. This may be a new concept for the readers, but I trust in you to help them understand. Father, you are mighty and our Protector, but that doesn't stop the enemy from his attempts to kill, steal, and destroy. Give us revelation of his workings and help us to live victoriously, regardless of his foul attempts. The next time an issue arises or a problem surfaces, I pray that the readers will seek You. I pray that they will dive into the Bible and that you will speak to them. Give them insight and help them to triumph over the enemy's attacks. I pray they will see the real enemy. Only You alone can help us, you alone can save us, so we lift all of our issues and problems up to you, and ask for your protection and guidance. You are mighty to save, and have power beyond what we can imagine. You are our Safe Shelter and Hiding Place. Praise, Honor, and Glory be to You! In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Prayerfully,

Pam