Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: Win the Battle of Your MindSýnishorn

The Tactics of the Enemy

It only takes a moment for the Enemy to weasel his way into a seat at the table your Shepherd has prepared for you. Suddenly, it’s not just you and God Almighty at your table anymore. The Enemy only needs the smallest window of doubt or crack of uncertainty to begin to win the battle for your mind. 

Sadly, we’ve come to accept the Enemy sitting at our table as normal. That’s a big problem. We give him permission anytime we accept the false narrative that we aren’t worth much to God, or anybody else, for that matter. Or we take the point of view that we deserve more and allow envy and greed to cannibalize our God-given identity. Before we know it, we talk like the Devil and think the thoughts he wants us to dwell on. 

Allowing the Enemy to have a say in our lives should not be normal. In Jesus’ name, we can refuse him and all his ways. The same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of all who put their faith in Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus Christ has broken the power of sin, and God’s invitation to us is to embrace a new mindset and a new way of living. In Jesus’ name, we don’t have to let the voice of the Enemy control the way we live. We can win the battle for our minds. Thanks to Jesus, we are no longer slaves. We are set free. We are alive. We are children of God. 

We create a big problem when we grasp only the first part of Psalm 23:4 (walking through the valley) but opt out of remembering what comes next (God’s promise to be with us in the midst of difficulties). When we camp out in the valley of hardships or persecution or loneliness, we are prompted by the Enemy to doubt that God really cares. That is when we hear the sound of an unwelcome visitor dragging a chair to our table with the Shepherd. He’s often quiet at first. Friendly even. You might not recognize him when he first sits down. He often appears to be on your side, promising you seemingly easy relief from your troubles (see 2 Corinthians 11:14). Your Enemy will use whatever devices are available to worm his thoughts inside your brain (see 1 John 2:16). 

In whatever way the Devil gains a seat at your table, his goals are always the same. He wants to gain access to your mind so he can destroy you (see John 8:44, 2 Timothy 2:26, and 1 Peter 5:8). He wants to kill your relationship with God and cause division between you and the people who care for you. You can’t stop the Devil from prowling around, but it is up to you to keep him from sitting at your table. 

If the Enemy is already sitting at your table, you first need to recognize his lies and acknowledge their destructive power in your life. You then need to realize that there’s an all-powerful Good Shepherd with a rod in one hand and a staff in the other. With the staff, He can grab you and pull you to safety. And with that rod, He can crush the Devil (see Psalm 23:4). 

Respond

What are some ways you have given the Enemy permission to sit at your table?

What destruction have you seen the Devil bring to your life or the life of someone close to you? What tactics did he use?

How have you seen God walk with you through difficult valleys? How have you seen His rod and staff in action?