Discernment to Defeat Your EnemySample

Jesus Over Everything

People tend to idolize the blessings in their lives, including careers, education, possessions, dreams, and even family members. The enemy loves to use our blessings as deterrents. He knows he has an open door to our lives once we get consumed by what we do or have. He then makes it his business to keep us distracted by those things. It is easy to become distracted when your focus is not on God and His purposes for your life. 

This reminds me of what transpired between the serpent and Eve in the Garden of Eden. She knew that her place in the garden was to live free and serve God, but once she was introduced to something other than what her initial purpose had been, she went astray. Adam and Eve’s desire for the knowledge of good and evil became something that they wanted more than everything God had promised them in the garden. They had all they could ever have wanted, but the serpent knew that if he could make them lust for things they did not have, they would soon think about those things more than what God had already given them.

How do we navigate success or receiving the things for which we prayed? We need to keep Jesus at the center of it all. God wants us to be successful, but the evil one will try to lead us into spiritual adultery, or he will demand that we give him the glory. This deception is what he has been doing since he was kicked out of heaven for trying to exalt himself over God. We must deflect any glory given to us, and we should make sure that we are a reflection of Christ. 

Also, we must be equipped fully in our spiritual armor. Remember that we are living in a world that is run by the enemy of our soul, and that enemy is baiting us constantly to serve creation rather than the creator. Putting on your spiritual armor is very instrumental in helping you avoid falling into idolatry. We have to make sure that when we are out in the world we are locked and loaded in the spirit. 

What blessings and dreams have you allowed to become idols in your life (family, career, or gifts)? How can equipping yourself with spiritual armor keep you from falling into idolatry?