Tools of Satan

Lies, deceit, mistrust, division...one or more of these enter our lives on a daily basis. Some of them come boldly and some come disguised...but they do come. Why you may ask... well, that's an easy question to answer. It's because Satan wants us to focus on the things around us instead of keeping our eyes fixed on Christ. He knows if he can get us to pay attention to things that speak to our flesh- emotions, physical needs, etc. that we won't focus on the things that truly matter...the spiritual things...the things of God.

 

Satan is the great destroyer. He gets satisfaction from causing pain and anguish in our lives. He is a manipulator who plays on our weaknesses and causes us to make rash decisions based on what we feel instead of on what we know to be true. He is a master of trickery and often uses temptation to bribe us into acting upon it. Don't be deceived into thinking that he doesn't understand our fleshly desires because he certainly does! He observes our behavior and uses that to devise evil plans custom tailored for each of us. But don't lose heart! He does not have "absolute power" over us! He can only affect our lives in areas that God allows him to touch. He is on a short tether and God ultimately determines how short that leash is and when it will be reigned in. 

 One of the key areas that Satan loves to attack is our minds! One of his best tools is to plant seeds of doubt and mistrust. He loves to inflict jealousy, lust, and fear into our minds and as he does...he keeps our eyes focused on our immediate circumstances. How many times have you had a thought come into your mind that was not a good thought? You may not have recognized the thought immediately as being a tool of Satan. You may have just imagined something or felt a small bit of panic or fear for a moment, but remember this...God is not the author of confusion or fear! The Bible tells us that we are to capture every thought...in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One." Every thought that comes into our mind is not from God! The mind is the gateway to both good and evil. We can choose whether we want to dismiss those unpure, fleshly thoughts or whether we will act on them. We have the power to choose!

 

So how are we to know which thoughts are from God and which are from Satan? The Bible tells us exactly what to think about! In Phillipians 4:8 we read, " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." So any thought that is not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable is not from God! Those thoughts of jealously, lust, hurt, fear, division, mistrust...those are all thoughts planted by the father of lies himself...Satan. The best way to combat those lies is to know the truth! The Bible says in John 8:32, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." And how can you know the truth? Only by reading the word of God, the Bible.

 

We are in a war daily and that war takes place in our minds. Our mind is the battlefield! So we need to be well equipped to fight in that battle and the first place the battle begins is at the door to our mind. Stand guard at that gate and hold every thought captive. In doing this, you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and you can combat those lies with truth! Stand firm and be on guard because those lies straight from the pit of hell are bound to come your way in subtle, deceitful, sneaky ways today and in the days to come. But take heart! You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ, your savior! Satan has no power over you because He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."