If you’ve been a follower of Christ for any length of time, you know that you have an enemy who hates you. His main aim to kill, steal, and destroy anything of value in your life (John 10:10).
There are times in our lives where it feels like Satan and his demons are relentless and we struggle with staying in the fight.
But Satan doesn’t tempt us with atrocious, heinous, vile sins. He knows we would recognize and rebuke those attempts in a nanosecond. I mean seriously, when was the last time you woke up and said, I think I’ll destroy a nation today?
Rather, he likes to slip in through the back door seemingly undetected.
And while Satan is very real, his tactics are more of an illusion. But if he can keep you in the dark, then his plan to kill, steal, and destroy can go undetected for a long, long time.
Let’s expose this facade and see him in his true light.
Here are six things Satan would say to you (if he were honest)—things that he doesn’t want you to know.
#1. I can’t read or control your mind.
I may be a supernatural being, but I don’t have the same powers as God. He knows your thoughts (Psalm 139:2), but I don’t. I have to wait for you to open your mouth to know what you’re thinking. However, I can and often do barrage your mind with unwanted thoughts so fiercely that you think I have gained access. If you would begin to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), I would have no power over your thoughts.
#2. You have more power than me.
My power has been stripped. Jesus has defeated me. (Luke 10:19 and Colossians 1:13-14). You seem to think that because I led this rebellion in heaven that I’ve got all these powers that you can’t compete with. The truth is I can’t do anything without permission. (Job 1:12). It is true that if you resist me, I will go away. (James 4:7). I have bigger fish to fry than to continue with someone who won’t budge an inch in my direction. But give me an open door, just give in a little bit, and I will persist until my destruction over your life is satisfied.
#3. Fear is my #1 tactic.
It’s an oldie but goodie. If I can get you wrapped up in fear then you will doubt God. Because here’s the truth: if you doubt God, you rely on yourself. When you rely on yourself, I can slip in undetected. I absolutely hate it when Christians recognize that my fear is just a phony façade. When they learn the truth that God is ALWAYS with them and ALWAYS for them (Isaiah 41:10, 2 Timothy 1:7), I lose my negotiating power.
#4. You give me more credit than I deserve.
Many of the issues you go through in life are a result of your choices. Yet, you blame me. I love it when you don’t believe God’s word because that means you also don’t believe that you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-8). Don’t worry, I’ll gladly take the credit for something I didn’t do. I want you to get caught up in not being able to distinguish between me and your flesh. If it’s you and you blame me, then you don’t change. If it’s me and you blame yourself, you come under condemnation. Either way, I win.
#5. Jesus really does forgive and forget (Psalm 103:12).
It’s you humans that hold on to offenses and past failures (even I don’t do that to myself). You’ve got an easy way out. All you need to do is confess your stupid mistakes and Jesus forgives you and lets you start over (1 John 1:9). Only a fool wouldn’t take advantage of that.
#6. God really does have a plan for your life.
Seriously, why do you think I mess with you so much? God knows the plans He has for your life (Philippians 1:6 and 1 Corinthians 2:9). Even I have a pretty good idea of what God has in store for you, but you’re the one who doubts it. That’s why it’s so easy for me to distract, discourage, and derail you from your destiny. If you would believe God over me, I’d never succeed in anything I try to throw at you.
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19
I pray that you will rise up in the authority given to you by Jesus himself.
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