I’ve been studying the parables of Jesus with a few ladies each week. We just finished the parable of the sower and in the last section of the study, our author reminded us through Scripture of how the enemy works. How he attacks. The strategies he uses to pull us away from God.

I thought it might be a good reminder for you as well, so I’d like to share her thoughts on some of his evil strategies.

He leads us astray. 2 Corinthians 11:3(NIV) says, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

He masquerades and gets others to do the same. We find these words in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NIV). “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

He torments through thorns in our flesh. “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7 – NIV)

He tempts. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 (NIV) says, “For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.”

He accuses. John wrote these words in Revelation 12:10 (NIV). “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”

We know that the ruler of the world will morph into whatever he needs to in order to get our attention. But when we know what he’s up to, I believe we can be better prepared to battle against him. So what are some tools we can use to defeat this fiend?

First we have God’s Spirit who is with us to guide, counsel, convict and help us to see the devil’s schemes for what they are. Listen.

We have the weapons given in Ephesians 6:13-18. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, fittings of readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit and prayer.

And while we know the enemy is prowling about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), please know that our powerful God is up to something as well. 1 Peter 3:12a (NIV) tells us that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.” And 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV) says “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

God is looking out for you. He cares for you. It’s His desire to strengthen you. And He hears your prayers.

If you feel the enemy closing in, turn to the One who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna