The Invisible Enemy

…do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 (NIV)

I believe the toughest enemy to fight is the one we don’t know about. That’s why Ephesians 6:12 is such an important Scripture to understand. It says:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places (AMPC).

This verse tells us that our enemies aren’t necessarily our circumstances, other people, or even ourselves. It’s saying that behind all of the things that are happening on the surface, there is also a very real spiritual battle taking place.

I was a Christian for years before I realized I had an enemy, Satan, who will do everything in his power to prevent us from walking in God’s Good Plan for our lives. The Bible says that his sole purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Scripture teaches us that Satan (or Lucifer) was once an angel, but he was cast out of Heaven after he rebelled against the Lord. Isaiah 14:13-14 (NIV) says, “…For you [Lucifer] said in your heart, “I will raise my throne above the stars of God…I will make myself like the Most High.”

As I mentioned, Satan will fight us and attempt to destroy the future God has for us. He uses things like strife and anger to try and devastate relationships and marriages. He also comes against us with fear and doubts to prevent us from enjoying our lives and stepping out in faith.

Yes, the enemy has power, but the good news is God lives on the inside of us, and He is greater than the enemy (1 John 4:4). The best thing we can do to combat Satan is to draw close to God and become strong in Him. We do this by talking with Him and studying His Word (the Bible). We are in a spiritual battle, and God’s Word is a spiritual weapon.

I think many people are like me. Before I knew about the enemy, I allowed him to influence my life without ever knowing it. Whether it was fear, insecurity, strife, or depression, I didn’t know I could take a stand against it.

For instance, one major way he attacks is through deception. John 8:44 (NIV) teaches us that Satan “is a liar and the father of lies.” He attempts over and over to get us to believe things that aren’t true. Even though they are lies, he knows that if we believe they are true, then they become a reality for us and negatively affect us in so many ways.

How does he do it? He comes against us by bombarding our minds with thoughts that lead to suspicion, doubt, fear, and theories that go against what God’s Word says.

For years, I believed so many things that weren’t true, and it created a mess. For example, if I woke up with negative thoughts and feeling depressed, I thought, Well, I guess I’m depressed. Or I remember thinking things like: Nobody cares about me or loves me; My past is such a mess; I should just give up.

That’s why it is critical for us to know what God’s Word says—it’s our main line of defense against the lies of the enemy. I like to say that His Word is our “litmus test” for knowing what is true and false—a way to know the truth and expose the lies.

The next time you notice yourself battling negative things, choose to replace them with truth from God’s Word. If the enemy tries to convince you that you’re insignificant, say: “I am a child of God and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves me and has a great plan for my life!” (Psalm 139; Romans 8:38; Jeremiah 29:11.)

I don’t believe we need to be overly focused on Satan. But knowing that he exists and understanding how he operates is an important part of living in freedom. And the more we study and get familiar with God’s Word, the better we’ll get at recognizing his tactics.

Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) says …do not give the devil a foothold. The enemy constantly wants to get his foot in the door, so to speak…to find a way into our lives. But as we stay close to God, He will help us to expose the lies of the enemy and stay one step ahead.

Prayer: “God, thank You for being greater than the enemy and anything he throws my way. I ask You to open my eyes to his deceptions and any areas of my life where he would try to get a foothold. Help me to love Your Word because it’s the Truth that sets me free and exposes the lies. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”