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We all have our own ways of defending ourselves from the enemy. We might pray more often and for longer, if we feel as though we’re being tempted, or we might ask our friends to check up on us and take extra measures to hold us accountable. It’s essential that we combine our own means of protection, like those mentioned above, with those set out in Scripture because God knows the enemy and us better than we do.
Preparation is key when it comes to resisting the enemy. Because it isn’t always easy to identify, we’re even more vulnerable to attacks if our knowledge is poor on the ways that it can manifest – devil, demon, evil spirit, tempter, false prophet, to name a few. The best foundation for our preparation is God’s Word. It’s what Jesus used to emerge victorious from his battle with the devil in the desert, and it’s there that we can find the information we need on how to successfully fight against him.
Engaging in a daily battle with the devil can all sound a bit exhausting so it’s reassuring to know that some of the best ways that we can resist his pull include doing the everyday things – striving to live as God commands, modelling ourselves on Christ, communicating regularly with God and avoiding that which is ungodly.
The following Bible verses are worth reading over to refresh yourself about the biblical-rooted ways to defend yourself against the enemy.
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 John 4:1 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
2 Corinthians 2:11 – “In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
John 8:44 – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
