Know Your Enemy

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Know Your Enemy

We are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness. —Ephesians 6:12

Satan uses people and circumstances, but they are not our real enemy; he is. He finds things and people through whom he can work and delights in watching us fight and war without ever realizing he is the source. When Satan used Peter to try and divert Jesus from going to Jerusalem to complete the task God had sent Him to do, "Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]." (Matthew 16:23, emphasis mine) Satan used Peter, but Jesus knew that Peter was not His real problem. He turned away from Peter and addressed the source of His temptation.

We need to look beyond what we see or initially feel and seek to know the source of our problems too. Usually we blame people and become angry with them, which only complicates and compounds the problem. When we behave in this manner, we are actually playing right into Satan's hands and helping his plans succeed. We also blame circumstances and sometimes even God, which also delights Satan.

Yes, we need to know our enemy—not only who he is but what his character is like. The Bible encourages us to know the character of God so we can place faith in Him and what He says. Likewise, we should know Satan's character so we do not listen to or believe his lies.

From the book New Day, New You: 365 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer.