Faith Under Fire: Guarding Against The Enemy's Schemes

The devil is a cunning and manipulative enemy, seeking to steal, kill and destroy. He is the enemy of your soul, aiming to wear you out and take you out. He will use any means necessary to achieve his goals, including injecting negative thoughts, doubts and worries into your mind, tempting you to sin, and stirring up pride. But as a Christian, you have the power to resist and defeat him. By putting on the full armour of God, you can stand against his wiles and schemes. Don't let the enemy weaken your faith! Recognise his strategies, put on 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. With God's protection and your spiritual strength, you can overcome the devil's attacks and stand firm in your faith.

Recognise the enemy and their schemes

The Bible tells us that we are in a spiritual war, and our enemy is Satan, who has waged war against us. We must recognise and understand our enemy and their schemes to effectively fight against them. Here are some insights into the nature of our adversary and their strategies:

Know Your Enemy:

• Satan is the enemy of our souls, and his primary goal is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He is subtle, cunning, and deceptive.
• Our enemy is not flesh and blood but evil spirits (Ephesians 6:12-13). They use people, even Christians, to carry out their plans.
• Satan knows us well and studies us daily. He targets our weaknesses and tries to inject negative thoughts and doubts into our minds.

Understand Their Schemes:

• Fear is one of Satan's primary weapons. It robs us of our faith and peace and shifts our focus from God's promises.
• Satan lies to us and plays on our insecurities and fears. He wants to get us into wrong thinking, believing, saying, and acting.
• The enemy tempts us to sin and pride. They try to make us think we are better than others or more holy.
• Satan uses circumstances, people's words, and thoughts contrary to God's word to wear us down and make us doubt God's promises.

Be Prepared:

• We must have a battle plan and be prepared for the enemy's attacks. This involves knowing their strategies and becoming familiar with their evil schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).
• We need to put on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and use the weapons of our warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4).
• Meditating on God's Word, speaking it out, and praying are essential in our fight against the enemy.
• We must resist the devil, and he will flee from us (James 4:7).

By recognising the enemy and understanding their schemes, we can effectively fight against them and stand firm in our faith.

Don't let the enemy steal your joy

The devil has a strategy, and he wants to steal, kill and destroy. He will use any means necessary to achieve this, and he doesn't work alone. He will use people, even Christians, to carry out his plans. He is subtle and cunning and will try to manipulate you through your thoughts and emotions. He knows your weaknesses and insecurities and will use them against you.

So, how do you stop him from stealing your joy?

Firstly, you must recognise and identify your enemy. You can't fight what you don't know, so educate yourself on the devil's schemes and tactics. Be vigilant and aware, and don't be caught off guard.

Secondly, arm yourself with the full armour of God. Put on 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. Through prayer, faith, love, kindness, and compassion, you can stand against the devil.

Thirdly, renew your mind with God's promises and truths. Meditate on His Word and speak it out loud to counter the devil's lies. When negative thoughts and doubts come, replace them with God's promises.

Finally, don't give up. Be persistent in your faith and don't let the enemy wear you out. Keep fighting the good fight, and don't let go of the things God has promised you.

Remember, God is on your side, and He will handle your enemies. He will bring everything hidden into the light, avenge you, and prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies. So, walk in love and obedience, and don't let the devil steal your joy.

Don't let the enemy rob you

The devil is a liar and a thief, and he will try to take what is rightfully yours. He will use any means necessary to deceive and manipulate you, including injecting negative thoughts into your mind, to lead you astray from God's promises.

The Bible tells us that we are in a spiritual battle, and our enemy, Satan, has strategies and schemes to wear us out and take us out. He will try to steal, kill, and destroy, and he won't fight fair. He knows your weaknesses and will target them relentlessly. He will use people around you to carry out his plans, and he will stop at nothing to see you fall.

But we have hope! God has given us the intelligence and the weapons to fight back and defeat the enemy every time. We must put on the full armour of God and stand firm against the devil's schemes. We must be vigilant and recognize our enemy, knowing that he is subtle, cunning, and always working to bring us down.

• Meditate on God's Word to develop a faith that drives out fear.
• Speak the Word of God out loud to fight against the enemy's lies.
• Take every thought captive and line it up with the Word of God.
• Recognize that there is a way out of temptation and answer it with God's Word.
• Humble yourself and submit to God and His Word.
• Be grateful and remember that all good things come from God.
• Do not judge other Christians; instead, focus on your own relationship with God.
• Forgive those who wrong you and walk in love, even towards your enemies.
• Pray and seek God's guidance and protection.

Remember, the devil is a defeated foe. Jesus has already won the victory for us, and with God on our side, we can stand strong against any attack. Don't let the enemy rob you of your blessings, your peace, your joy, or your faith. Fight the good fight and keep standing until you see God's promises come to pass in your life!

Don't let the enemy cook stuff in your mind

The Bible tells us that we are in a spiritual war, and our enemy, Satan, has strategies and schemes to take us out. One of his primary targets is our mind, as it is through our thoughts that he can influence our actions and ultimately our faith.

Satan's goal is to create doubts in your mind about God's promises. He injects negative thoughts, aiming to make you waver between what your heart believes and these new, dark ideas. He is subtle and cunning, always working to bring you down. He studies you and knows your weaknesses, using them to his advantage.

So, how do we fight back?

Firstly, we must be aware of his schemes and not be ignorant of his devices. We need to recognise these negative thoughts for what they are: lies from the enemy. We must take every thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ. This is a constant battle, and we must be vigilant, watching our thoughts and replacing negative ones with godly words.

Secondly, we must renew our minds with God's promises and truth. Meditating on His Word strengthens our faith and gives us hope, which acts as an anchor for our souls. When we fill our minds with God's promises, we can stand firm, even when the enemy tells us we cannot make it.

Lastly, we must resist the enemy. We are told to resist the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7). We have been given authority over him, and we must use the weapons of our warfare to fight back. This includes speaking out God's truth and using the Word of God as a sword to fight against the enemy's fiery darts of fear, doubt, and worry.

Remember, we are in a spiritual battle, and our enemy is real. Don't let him cook stuff in your mind. Be alert, renew your mind, and resist the devil at every turn. With God's help, we can stand strong and keep the enemy from weakening our faith.

Don't let the enemy defeat you

Firstly, it is important to recognise your enemy. As 1 Peter 5:8 (AMPC) says, "that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour". The devil is a liar, a thief, and the father of lies (John 8:44). He will try to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), and he will use other people to carry out his plans. He will try to wear you out, and he will attack your thoughts. He will use fear, doubt, and worry to try to defeat you. He will manipulate your thoughts and try to inject doubt into your mind.

So, how do you fight back? Firstly, you need to be prepared. Know that the devil will try to attack you, and arm yourself with God's word. Meditate on the Bible, and when the devil tries to fill your mind with negative thoughts, replace them with God's truth. For example, if the devil says, "You're not smart enough", you can respond with, "I have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Another way to fight back is to pray. Pray in the spirit, and pray in times of temptation. God will give you the strength to resist the devil (James 4:7). You can also speak out loud to the devil, rebuking him and commanding him to leave.

It is also important to not give the devil a foothold in your life. Don't entertain his thoughts or fall into his traps. Be vigilant, and don't let him steal your joy, peace, or anything else that God has given you.

Finally, remember that God is on your side. He has already defeated the enemy, and He will help you do the same. He will bring everything hidden into the light and avenge you (Luke 8:17, Romans 12:19). He will not let the enemy succeed against you, and He will help you defeat the real enemy (Ephesians 6:12-13). So, stand strong, and don't let the enemy defeat you!

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