The Devil is a Liar

I’m reading a book that’s been around for quite some time. Many have read it before, but this is my first pass through. Its “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, and it contains fictional, but very realistic, letters from Satan to one of his head demons on how to get to a certain individual and cause him lose his faith and, ultimately, his soul. Oh my goodness. Its as if every chapter I see causes me sit and reflect on my life and say, “Hmmm…I think Satan has pulled that trick on me!”

He’s so sneaky. He lies. He bends the truth. He exaggerates reality. He heightens your awareness of little things that don’t really matter and makes them seemingly more important than they are–all the while, distracting you from things that really are of grave importance. He takes a small offense and turns it into a bitter root–a habit into an obsession–a fear into a paralization. And, if we’re not careful, we won’t even notice he’s doing it.

We have to learn to take our thoughts captive. Its a tough skill to master–a skill I’m still working on and likely will be for life. The minute a thought enters our heads, we have to stop and think, “Is this thought good or holy or righteous? If I were standing before Jesus right now, how would I react or respond to this thought?” I must admit, some days, my reaction is so disappointing. Sometimes, I’m ashamed of how I’ve allowed myself to dwell in a place of danger, toying with a thought that is momentarily rewarding. I may want to be mad at someone, I may want to judge the actions of another, I may want to lust after someone in my mind, I may want to linger, just for a few moments, in an unholy place because I’m pretending, if its only for a moment, its okay.

Its not okay. Your mind is the place where your actions are formed. You may not act on a thought right now, but if you give in to enough of those thoughts over a long enough period of time, suddenly, that person you’re angry with crosses your path at just the right moment for you to snap off with a biting dig; then you’ve set them back in their walk or cost them their salvation because you were the only Jesus they ever knew.

Or maybe you’re married and there’s someone who is not your spouse that you fantasize about. It doesn’t even have to be a sexual fantasy; its just someone you think inappropriate thoughts about. Then, that person comes by after a fight you’ve had with your spouse and they offer some comfort, or perhaps suggest going out for a bite to eat. Seemingly innocent or a set up from the slyest of the sly? I assure you, its a doorway to trouble.

Or you covet things that your neighbor has, thinking you too should be so blessed. You devise ways to obtain the material posessions so that you can have the appearance of worldly success, just as your neighbor does. All the while, you’re outside of the will of God, you’ve stopped tithing, and the debt you’ve incurred is dragging you into bankruptcy.

It all starts with one, singular thought. Then another. Then another.

And the thing is, when these “opportunities” come up, sometimes we’re often aware that we’re flirting with disaster. Sometimes we know its wrong, but the immediate gratification factor over rules our senses and we give into temptation. We’ve dwelled too long in our sinful thoughtlife, and, now, we find ourselves unable to resist the pull of the tide that wants to carry us out to the sea of hopelessness.

How many times have I seen it? How many times have I been there myself? How many people do I know, right now, who are being pulled away, tempted, and lied to? How many are fighting against the real enemy and how many are blaming themselves or their circumstances or others around them, because they fail to see the enemy at work? Or they see him, and they just pretend not to.

Its time to wake up and smell the devil. The Bible tells us Satan is here, on Earth, like a roaring lion, prowling around, trying to orchestrate your fall from grace so that he might devour you. These are not just some intimidating words that a parent spews out to try to scare you into behaving. Its a warning from your heavenly Father about a truth…a truth that can kill you if you do not heed the warning. Satan doesn’t just want to mess with you; he wants to destroy you. You must fight him on this mental level. This is where he gains entry into all the other areas of your life. You must realize that he’s not just mean, he’s evil. He’s a jealous, manipulative, canaiving, demonic spirit that is very real and wants to see you suffer and cry and writhe in pain. He’s not just some guy in a red suit with a pitchfork. He is the epitomy of all that is vile and morally reprehensible, and he’s plotting your eternal demise.

So be vigilant. Look for him. See him for who he is, but do NOT stand in fear of him. For if you are a child of God, you have all you need to win the war against the destroyer. You have the blood of Jesus and the power of prayer and the sword of truth–which is God’s Word.

My prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, draw me close to you. Let my thoughts be Your thoughts. Help me to be more like You, oh, Lord. Cleanse my heart and my mind. Place my eyes upon heavenly places. Help me not to be riddled with confusion. Help me to look to You first and to clearly discern Your voice from all others, that I may not be deceived. Help me not to desire anything on this Earth that would take precedence over You and Your perfect Will for my life. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I’ve lingered far too long in a dangerous place in my mind. Thank you for your protection when I’ve been in places in my life that could have been my ultimate undoing, but you stepped in and saved me, and I didn’t even know it. Sanctify me, Lord. Make my life, my outward appearances as well as my innermost thoughts, worthy of entering the gates of Heaven. Let my prayers be righteous and my eyes be always set upon Your face.

Bless us, as a people, Lord. Help us to recognize the wiley ways of the devil and to rise against his hateful plans for our demise. For we are your children. And if You, Lord, are for us, then, tell me, who dares rise against us? We are the righteousness of Christ, saved by Your amazing Grace, through our faith in You. And, as we awaken to the fact that this roaring lion is still prowling the Earth, let us stand together, in full battle armor and confidence in You, and help us to overcome the temptations and lies and fears and doubts that might otherwise overtake us. Help us to walk in your tender Mercy and, when we overcome the enemy, let us never forget to give you all the Glory. I thank you, Father, in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.