Strategies of the Enemy
“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 CSB
Hey friend,
As we continue our Armor of God series, it’s super important that we realize we are in a wrestling match with a real enemy. We may not physically be able to see him but make no mistake friend – he is there. One of the enemy’s tactics is to try to make you think that you aren’t in a wrestling match. Satan feasts on keeping our eyes focused on what we can see in the physical realm so that we won’t pay attention to what is happening in the spiritual realm.
Since starting this series last week, I’ve faced some technical difficulties with the website. I scheduled a post on Friday to release Saturday morning on how prayer plays a vital role in our armor but when I woke up Saturday morning, I noticed that the post never did release. I tried to release the post manually but still ran into technical difficulties that wouldn’t allow me to get my written words out to the world.
Friend, the enemy wants me to think the problem is that it’s just the age of computers we live in. No big deal, right?! – computers and computer programs mess up all the time. And I would have believed him years ago before my eyes were opened to the real enemy and the real battle that we face.
One of the first things we must do to have spiritual victory in our lives is uncover the enemy. That’s half of the battle right there, friend. The enemy will do whatever he can to deceive you into not paying attention to this half of the battle though. Satan knows that he becomes crippled in his schemes once we pay attention to his activity in our lives. He knows that once we conquer this half of the battle we are on the horizon of ushering in our spiritual victory.
No wonder 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” Friend, make no mistake. Satan is in the business to devour and destroy and he will stop at nothing to do so.
Listed below are ten of the enemy’s favorite strategies to use against God’s people. This list is taken from the Armor of God study written by Priscilla Shirer. As you read this list, ask God to open your eyes to where the enemy is attacking in your life.
Strategy #1 – Against Your Passion: The enemy seeks to dim your whole desire for prayer, dull your interest in spiritual things, and downplay the potency of your most strategic weapons. (Eph 6:10-20)
Strategy #2 – Against Your Focus: The enemy disguises himself and manipulates your perspective so you end up focusing on the wrong culprit, directing your weapons at the wrong enemy. (2 Cor. 11:14)
Strategy #3 – Against Your Identity: The enemy magnifies your insecurities, leading you to doubt what God says about you and to disregard what He’s given you. (Eph 1:17-19)
Strategy #4 – Against Your Family: The enemy wants to disintegrate your family, dividing your home, rendering it chaotic, restless, and unfruitful. (Gen. 3:1-7)
Strategy #5 – Against Your Confidence: The enemy is constantly reminding you of your past mistakes and bad choices, hoping to convince you that you’re under God’s judgement rather than under the blood. (Rev 12:10)
Strategy #6 – Against Your Calling: The enemy amplifies fear, worry, and anxiety until they’re the loudest voices in your head, causing you to deem the adventure of following God too risky to attempt. (Josh. 14:8)
Strategy #7 – Against Your Purity: The enemy tries to tempt you toward certain sins, convincing you that you can tolerate them without risking consequence, knowing they’ll only wedge distance between you and God. (Isa. 59:1-2)
Strategy #8 – Against Your Rest and Contentment: The enemy hopes to overload your life and schedule, pressuring you to constantly push beyond your limits, never feeling permission to say no. (Deut. 5:15)
Strategy #9 – Against Your Heart: The enemy uses every opportunity to keep old wounds fresh in mind, knowing that anger and hurt and bitterness and unforgiveness will continue to roll the damage forward. (Heb 12:15)
Strategy #10 – Against Your Relationships: The enemy creates disruption and disunity within your circle of friends and within the shared community of the body of Christ. (1 Tim. 2:8)
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for opening my eyes to see how the enemy operates in my life. He is clever and sneaky, but he isn’t going to win the battle. You have already claimed the victory when Jesus rose from the grave. I praise your Holy Name! Please continue to open my eyes to the battle that rages every day. Keep me alert Lord and help me to stand firm in the very armor that you have given me. I stand on your word – for it is faithful and true. In Jesus Name, Amen.