Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.  I Peter 5:8

     This verse makes it very clear that we have an enemy. We don’t live in an awareness of that. Because we don’t “buy in” to this Scripture, we are easy targets. You don’t escape spiritual warfare simply because you choose not to believe it exists or because you refuse to fight.

     Let me tell you how subtle it all is. The enemy will suggest a thought to us, and what he is seeking is an “agreement” on our part. He is hoping that we will believe what he’s saying or insinuating. It happens all the time, but most of the time we don’t recognize it, so we embrace it as truth.

     John Eldredge (“Waking the Dead”) says, “My friend Aaron decided to get into shape. He went out and took a run. The first thought was, “There is no way you can do this! You’ll never get in shape.” He realized that these were the suggestions from the enemy, the Accuser. But then he began hearing stuff like: “You’re just a fat pig. You always have been. No one would ever be attracted to you.” Sound familiar? (Most of mine are thoughts like, “I can’t believe you said that!” Or, “Stop making a big deal out of this. Nobody cares.”)  Aaron said, ‘By the time I got back to my car, it felt like I’d been assaulted. But I made no agreements.”

     Most of do agree, though, don’t we? There is just enough “truth” in what we feel in the statement, that not only do we agree, we add more terrible thoughts to it! No wonder we all feel like we live under a low-flying black cloud! We assume these impressions are our own, accept them as truth, and we agree with them, like slaves to a task master. Be careful what or who you are agreeing with!  Satan, this verse says, wants to devour us. Devour!! This is no Sunday School picnic we are living in.

     Taking thoughts captive means we stop the thought and ask, “Is this what God says about me? Would God agree with these thoughts?” If the answer is no, then resist them, choose a truthful statement to replace that thought, then stand firm in the faith. This is war!

*What is the most persistent negative thought that runs through your mind? Can you picture God saying it?

Almighty God, Open my eyes to the enemy’s movements in my life, especially the negative things that repeat in my mind. I feed those thoughts and agree with them, when they are not in agreement with who You say I am! You paid a huge price for my freedom, which means I am no longer a slave to the lies of the enemy.  Help me to be alert, help me to resist, help me to stand firm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


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