Confession: There are a couple of things I don’t give a lot of thought to.
SATAN is one of them.
I admit, I don’t expect Satan to really care about messing with little ol’ me, but C.S. Lewis points out that this is a mistake.
He writes, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
Some people make the mistake of blaming everything on Satan, seeing him around every corner (you DO have a choice, don’tcha know?), and some think he is powerless and just not a factor in their everyday life (often my mistake).
I certainly don’t disbelieve Satan, I just don’t like to give him much thought.
The other day I was on the phone with one of my “young mamas” who just had her second baby and is struggling with anxiety and postpartum depression. Some days she is nearly paralyzed with FEAR. She knows this is hormonal and she’s getting medical help, and counseling which is necessary and GOOD, but she needed more.
I mumbled something about Satan being the father of lies and delighting when we buy into the scary scenarios that play in our head. I said I didn’t want to spiritualize, and maybe this wouldn’t feel helpful, and I didn’t want to offer pat answers (and a bunch of other caveats) but I shared some scripture. When I tried to move on to other things she said, “No! That’s really helpful. Laura, would you mind sending me some more Scripture?”
Sheesh, Laura! (I imagine Jesus giving me an eye roll. He is so patient with me.)
It got me thinking about the true battle we’re in. Here are 2 things God reminded me:
- Stay alert with a healthy awareness that Satan’s plans are opposite to God’s. In Luke 22, Jesus warns Peter that it’s Satan’s goal to separate us from Him.
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. 1 Peter 5:8 MSG
2. Satan is a lying liar. Our best weapon against Him is God’s Word.
When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies. John 8:45 MSG
This is why it is vital that we spend time filling our minds with Scripture. Read it. Listen to it. Memorize it. Pray with your Bibles open, repeating God’s Word back to Him with confident expectation.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NIV
You know what’s awesome?
(I kind of feel like saying “Mwahaha!”)
What’s your experience been like in this area? What Scripture would you share that has been helpful to you?
