As I was perusing Facebook one day last week, I saw a quote that one of our local morticians posted, “When the enemy can’t take you out, he’ll try to wear you out!” It really spoke loudly and clearly to me, so I shared it on my page as well.
Who is your enemy? Do you really know? How can you fight off what you don’t recognize? If you don’t know, then you need to learn how to recognize your enemy because he can do a number on you, and your not realizing it can cause all kinds of havoc in your life. Your enemy does not have to be a live person. Your enemy can be any entity that tries to attack or destroy you in any way.
Google states, “‘Enemy’ is a strong word, and ‘emotions associated with the enemy would include anger, hatred, frustration, envy, jealousy, fear, distrust, and possibly grudging respect.’” As you can see from the aforementioned statement, the enemy is nothing except a “chaotic cyclone.” Whenever the enemy knocks on your door, send Jesus to answer it because you cannot handle it alone: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me” (Psalm 137:8 ESV).
In this Christian life, we fight daily against three main enemies: the world, the flesh, and Satan. A newborn Christian sometimes mistakenly thinks that salvation means freedom from the enemy. Absolutely not! That is when the enemy abounds because he is going to try to take you out or wear you out. My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are in raging warfare with the enemy, so that is why we have to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11 KJV). “The ‘armor of God’ is a metaphor in the Bible (Ephesians 6:10-18) that both reminds Christians about the reality of spiritual battle and describes the protection available to them. The full armor of God that Christians are called to put on comprises of the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit” (April Motl, Crosswalk.com Contributor).
Keep in mind that Satan was an anointed angel who fell into pride, exalted himself above God Almighty, and was cast from heaven to the earth. Therefore, don’t let the enemy wear you out because he comes to steal and destroy. We are to stand opposed to Satan at all times. He will flee when we do. What does James 4:7 (ESV) say? “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Some common enemies of the world and the flesh that we face at times could be a debilitating disease, strenuous financial hassles, the unruly behavior of children, adulterous affairs of a spouse, an unfair boss, gossip, undeserved negative criticism, a required test that you cannot seem to pass, an addiction (drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, food, etc.), peer pressure, and the list “lurks” on. RECOGNIZE YOUR ENEMY! You cannot challenge him if you don’t know who he is. If you want God to fight off your enemies, your ways of living must be acceptable to Him. If you are doing the same thing as your enemy, how do you expect God to deliver you out of the enemy’s trap? The enemy has tried so many times to destroy me, but he will not win because “the devil is a liar”! God is my deliverer and protector. Don’t let the enemy take you out or wear you out; conquer the enemy with prayer, faith, love, kindness, and compassion! God will take care of the rest.
Have a wonderfully blessed week, stay safe, get involved in righting the wrongs of social justice, and never leave home without Him!
