Satan’s Tactics

He fights ugly and dirty with no holds barred and no rules. Are you ready to take him on?

April’s Awakening, Day 29

Satan cannot deny but that great wonders have been wrought by prayer. As the spirit of prayer goes up, so his kingdom goes down. Satan’s stratagems against prayer are three. First, if he can, he will keep thee from prayer. If that be not feasible, secondly, he will strive to interrupt thee in prayer. And, thirdly, if that plot takes not, he will labor to hinder the success of thy prayer.

 —William Gurnall 

Satan’s tactics seem to be as follows: He will first of all oppose our breaking through to the place of a real living faith, by all means in his power. He detests the prayer of faith, for it is an authoritative “notice to quit.” We often have to strive and wrestle in prayer before we attain this quiet, restful faith. And until we break right through and join hands with God we have not attained to a real faith at all. However, once we attain to a real faith, all the forces of hell are impotent to annul it. The real battle begins when the prayer of faith has been offered.

 —J. O. Fraser 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15 NIV   

            Devour, steal, kill, destroy, lie—these are all what the enemy will bring against you, your loved ones, and your possessions. You must always be watchful, standing firm in your faith, and resist the enemy with your weapon of weapons—the Word of God, just as Jesus effectively resisted him under temptation in the desert. You must be unseverably attached to Christ’s victory and the power of the Holy Spirit within you. You cannot do battle alone. Christ’s blood shed for you cleanses you from every mistake of your past and every mistake in your future—Satan has no viable grounds to condemn or accuse you. The Holy Spirit surrounds you, protects you inside and out, and will assist you in the words of your prayers. And don’t forget you’ve got your guardian angels watching over you too.

            Prepare and have your armor always on. Be firmly connected to Christ and the Holy Spirit within you. Know your enemy and his tactics and use discernment to sense his presence—even as he may speak by influencing others. Know God’s Word and be prepared to use it. Know who you are in Christ and never be shaken. You have the power to defeat the evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realms because His power resides within you.

            One final note—don’t be too quick to ascribe everything that goes wrong or bad to Satan. Still, the greatest enemy you will constantly face is the old self within you—your own bad choices will be reaped with the appropriate consequences. Make sure you do battle with the old and put on the new self in Christ each day.