By ANDREA GOEBEL
GOD’S WAY
“If you were a better homemaker, you would have washed the dishes last night instead of relaxing.”
“If you were a better wife, you would have talked to your husband while he was sitting beside you instead of reading those Bible verses to yourself.”
“If you were a better mother, you would have played with your kids earlier instead of working on your project.”
The onslaught of negative thoughts continued. Was this the truth? I wondered. I sat paralyzed in my chair, feeling helpless and distraught.
A few days later, a friend told me about the struggles she had faced recently.
“I was at home all by myself, and all of a sudden, the devil started attacking me and telling me all these lies,” she said.
The truth hit me hard: all of those words I worried about were not true. They were fabrications from the father of lies. Unfortunately, I had believed these beratements from that bully for the better part of my life.
Perhaps you have felt this way, too. Perhaps you have listened to the enemy’s evil ruses. Perhaps you have been convinced you are all alone; there is something wrong with you; and you will never be enough.
These are all deceptions of the dark one who desires to destroy us. He knows our wounds, our insecurities and our vulnerabilities – and he seeks to separate us from God’s truths. If we’re not careful, he will latch onto and lie to us before we realize we are under spiritual attack.
So, how do we fight these battles against an insidious adversary?
- We become more alert to his treachery.
1 Peter 5:8-9 guides us to “be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.”
When that vicious voice shouts falsehoods at us, we can remember that these are not God’s truths about us. The more we look for these lies, the more aware we become of their existence in our everyday lives.
- We call on God to help us.
Ephesians 6:11 instructs us to “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
If we find ourselves succumbing to the snares the enemy sets, we can ask God to protect us. When we acknowledge God’s power, we know that He will defeat our enemy – always.
- We believe God’s truth. He sows seeds of His great love for us throughout His Word.
Colossians 3:12 claims we are “God’s chosen ones.”
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us “we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance.”
Isaiah 43:4 declares, “You are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you.”
We don’t have to listen to the evil one. We do need to believe our heavenly father, who loves us more than we can imagine.
I wish I could say I am immune to the devil’s lure, but I’m not. He still seeks to capture my thoughts with his cunning words. However, when I sense one of his schemes, I empower myself with God’s promises. He will always prevail.