Christian Living

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Do you ever have a day when you feel that Satan has got to be specifically attacking you? As if he set time aside in his tremendously busy schedule of causing planet-wide disasters, whispering in the ears of crooked politicians, creating disharmony in families and discord in churches ... just to spend special time driving you nuts. And you think, What did I do to deserve so much attention?

I believe Jesus rightly informed us to rejoice when we enter trials (of course He’s right, He is God after all), because the only times that we garner that sort of special attention from the Enemy is when he sees us as a threat in his war against the Master of the universe. When Satan sees us putting on our spiritual armor and battling against his evil schemes with the love and truth of our God, it must set off a “red alert” siren throughout the black corridors of his headquarters. Because just at the time when a Christ follower is allowing the Holy Spirit to consume and direct them, just when they are doing the most good for the Kingdom of God, just when they feel the Lord’s strength the most – that is precisely the moment when our great adversary chooses his most stunning attacks.

Really makes you think doesn’t it? Why would someone with all the clout and power of the Devil be so worried about one little Christian?

Maybe because we have more power in Christ than we sometimes realize.

God can do amazing things through a person who is completely committed to Him, and Satan knows that. Did you know that every Christian holds more power in their heart than Satan holds in one of his grimy, gnarled hands? The Apostle John tells us, “Greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Satan knows that God working through one Christian is more power than he wants to deal with. What good is the hatred he inflicts when we love someone who is unlovable? What good is his disharmony when we introduce the peace of God? What good is his despair when we share the Hope that lies within us? Years of his evil dominion over a hurting individual’s soul melts like ice on a summer blacktop when God’s light is shone in their life. And we are the instruments through which God does His shining.

So why shouldn’t Satan attack us? Our commitment to God has the potential to seriously wreck a lot of his plans. Therefore he mounts a strong offense (or is it defense?) as a cowardly attempt to discourage or stop us. God gives us a glimpse of this guy’s reasoning in the book of Job. Apparently he thought that if he launched enough pain and heartache into a Christ’s warrior’s life, that warrior would eventually reject the General of his army. One less loyal soldier, one less threat for Satan to worry about.

This is what makes Job one of my favorite Bible characters. He was a soldier who stood his ground. He didn’t break under the torture of the Enemy. He refused to stop living for God. He would not betray his Master. Not for all the beatings in the world.

Job’s dedication gives me courage to stand strong against the attacks of Satan. He has no more power over me than what the Lord allows him to have – and any trouble that he attacks me with will eventually only serve to make me more conformed to Christ’s image than before. Satan can’t win if we choose to be upheld by Christ’s strength.

So when we find ourselves being knocked to the ground by Satan, what should we do? We should smile over the fact that we’re doing something right – fighting hard in God’s army – and we should get right back up and fight harder than ever.

Won’t that trip up Satan.



“For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” 1 Peter 2:20

“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Titus 2:3

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