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"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Remember, it is a table for two, not three.
It is you and Jesus at the table of grace, and Satan is not invited. He will invite himself, but resist him. He will appear as an angel of light to help you, but he is not there to help, only to punish and bring pain. One of the first things he will do is question what God has clearly said to you, which is the truth. In Genesis 3:1 he asks Eve, "Has God indeed said?"
In his book, Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, Pastor Louie Giglio points out that Satan will come as a friend, empathetic, and he might even quote the Bible to you, but the truth of the matter is, "He wants to gain access to your mind so he can destroy you. He wants to get inside your head so harmful thoughts can be planted within you. Those thoughts will grow unchecked and spill out into actions. . . . The devil is vicious and cruel, and he's always prowling around 'like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour' (1 Peter 5:8). That someone is you." (p. 47-48)
Resist the lies and replace them with the truth.
Remember in Matthew 4, each time Satan tempted Jesus, he responded by quoting the Word of God, the truth. Darkness and lies flee when exposed to truth.
Be on the lookout for these familiar lies that Satan will tempt you to believe. Pastor Giglio is most helpful here in identifying these lies.
1. The Lie of Comparison
Do not compare yourself with others, or you will be discouraged. You will be upset that you do not have what they have, or you will become proud, gloating that you have what others do not have. Social media is not our friend here. It is so easy to look at all the wonderful things people put on FB, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, etc., but do not fall for that.
2. The Lie that You Are Doomed
I am guilty of believing this lie. Recently, my wife called me out on it and said, "I don't know if you realize how often you talk about all you have to do." Giglio writes, "So often when we are asked how things are going, we reply with answers like, 'Man, I don't know if I am going to make it through this season. I'm not sure I am going to survive this semester. I don't know if I am going to get through this time.'" (p. 54) By thinking this way, we are giving the Devil a seat at our table.
Years ago, a pastor friend of mine, Steve Gaines, asked how I was doing, and I told him that with all the struggles and challenges I was facing, I had lost my confidence to lead. He stopped me and forcefully said, "That is Satan!" He was right. Remember what God promises in Psalm 23:4: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Pastor Giglio refers to the 23rd Psalm throughout his book, Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table. I encourage you, in times of temptation and struggle, read this psalm slowly and realize again how much God loves you and how He will triumph through you.
Tomorrow we will close out this week's devotions by looking at two more lies the enemy throws at us and how we can overcome him every time.
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