The Real Enemy

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 6:12

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seemed hard? The alarm didn’t go off as scheduled. The kids demanded everything and cleaned up nothing. You lost your keys. The car was running on fumes after your teenage driver borrowed it the night before. Dinner burned and the laundry pile was higher than Mt Everest. And to top it off the food temptations were endless.

When you experience a day like this it’s easy to lose patience with those around you and feel the need to scream, lecture them and get really angry. But the truth is, they are not the real enemy. The one who is deep down responsible for every temptation and challenge you face, is the one who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for opportunities to devour our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control.

Satan is the enemy of our soul and he will do anything and everything he can to distract us, tempt us and keep us from living in the Godly Character of the Holy Spirit. Yes, just like our friends, family and co-workers, we can choose to give into the temptations he dangles in front of us, but we can also choose to see them for what they are, his sneeky schemes.

When you look at the issue through the eyes of truth you can say, “Not today Satan,” and apply whichever Fruit of the Spirit that will overcome the problem before you. The Bible tells us to, “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. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:8-10) When we speak God’s Words of Truth to the situation we are resisting the enemy and he will flee. (James 4:7)

When we approach those same situations with Godly Character we can correct our children with love and patience. Find joy in the moments that smell like burnt toast. Be grateful for God’s provision of clothes. Exercise self control over the food and find peace knowing that tomorrow is a new day.