Highlighting – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (v. 1)
One of the tactics of the enemy is to make you doubt what God has said to you. He tempts you through manipulation, confusion and lures you into disobeying God by questioning His integrity. It’s not until after you’ve given in to the temptation, do you realize, what just happened. Sin doesn’t deliver, nor does the devil ever deliver what he’s promised, except deception. The enemy is cunning and patient (as my mom always says). I read a book by CS Lewis called, The Screwtape Letters, which has really opened my eyes to the enemy’s tricks, and I recognize how he uses these tools in real life (I strongly recommend you read it). The devil cannot create pleasure or anything for that matter, so what he does is, he will distort our perception and understanding of God-given pleasures by enticing us to desire what is forbidden or using it in the wrong way. Here is an excerpt from chapter 9, from Screwtape to Wormwood (please note the “Enemy” is God and “we / our Father” is referring to the demons and Lucifer):
Never forget that when we are dealing with any pleasure in its healthy and normal and satisfying form, we are, in a sense, on the Enemy’s ground. I know we have won many a soul through pleasure. All the same, it is His invention, not ours. He made the pleasures: all our research so far has not enabled us to produce one. All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. Hence we always try to work away from the natural condition of any pleasure to that in which it is least natural, least redolent of its Maker, and least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula. It is more certain; and it’s better style. To get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return-that is what really gladdens our Father’s heart.
We must pray daily for God to grow our wisdom and discernment. We cannot combat the enemy without the spiritual weapons only God can equip us with (Ephesians 6:10-18). Apart from God, the devil is too strong for us, but with God, we have authority over the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Walk in your God-given authority today!
Dear Father, grant me victory over the attacks of the enemy. Help me to recognize when the devil is trying to destroy me, when it’s not so obvious. Please give me Your Spirit of wisdom and discernment. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!
Recent Comments