Schemes of the Evil One

It has often been pointed out that the word "evil" is the word "live" spelled backwards. Satan delights to take what God does and try to reverse it, remove it, recline it, reduce it. His lying is always roundabout, complicated and deceiving.



SATAN IS A LIAR
...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. John 8:44

Satan likes to beat us while we are down. So many times I have fallen into the trap of the devil. His best playing field is our minds through our thoughts. If he can change our way of thinking, he can change our actions.

When you feel the attacks in the midst of God's work, it is satan. When you feel the attacks in the midst of your ministry and service to God, it is satan.

Satan has had his own hay day with me. In this recent battle a few weeks ago, it became so clear. He got me so worked up regarding some things resulting in a ten day span of being worried and fearful. Even at the peak, I shamefully wondered if God was really working in my life and if He had good planned for me. It seemed I was lacking so much of what I wanted and so many others had so many things (not material things). In this state of misery, I let problem X grow to the point of thinking well if problem X exists then it must mean this, and then that must mean this. Enough is enough. God once again showed me HIM. He showed me ME also. He showed me what He will do and what I need to do. One of which is to be more AWARE and to recognize the schemes of the evil one.

God came full circle on this recent issue. Once He revealed Himself to me, showed me the truth, and relieved my anxiety, He then provided three blessings. Do you know that they all pertain to HIM...three ways in which I will be able to draw even closer to Him. I don't find it any coincidence that He showed them to me right after the week of emotional confusion. And I tell ya what, I am excited over what He'll do with these three sources of drawing me even closer to Him. I believe this is God's attack right back at satan. He (satan) is trying to get us to focus on the negative and the hardships of pain. He wants to steal the show from God. He wants to remove God's blessings from us. He wants to distract us from God and the good things He has for us. He wants us to focus on ourselves and the impossible situations we have. He wants us to feel abandoned by God. He wants us to give up hope. You see, HE--satan, the devil, the evil one--wants to destroy us.

HE CAME TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

I am cautious in this subject matter because I do not want to give satan any more credit or attention than he deserves. However, we cannot naively go through life not recognizing his dirty work. If we fail to recognize his work, then we can fall into the trap of believing his work is actually the lack of God's work. We never want to blame God for something the evil one is doing. See where I'm going? In the midst of my distraught thinking, I began to think God didn't care and didn't really have a plan because I've not seen any "evidence" or "fruit" in His work. What we need to realize is the fruit in our lives many times start with being fruit in our hearts. God needs to transform our hearts in certain areas before He produces the fruit we desire to "see" in our lives.

Satan will be the first to remind us of the things God has not produced in our lives YET. A friend recently told me that a certain promise God had given her has not come to pass and it doesn't look like it will soon because of other complications. She continued to say that satan reminded her all weekend that this is so and won't happen. My response was: "shame on him but when God provides your miracle and His promise to you, you can shove it in his (satan's) face!!!"

THE PLANS FOR YOU
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I despise the schemes of the devil that he pulls on God's people. He is very good at his nasty and tricky ways but God is greater at His ways! With all the challenges we face, it can seem as though God is not working in our lives and things can seem impossible. We cry out to God, "Why aren't you working? Why aren't you doing something?" But have faith, HE IS. Don't be quick to judge God for not working in our lives and don't be quick to blame God for the attacks of satan. When God is up to something good, when we are serving and working for Him, when we are striving toworship Him so whole heartedly, when we are desperately seeking to keep our eyes on Him, satan gets VERY mad and he throws MANY things at us. A friend said she "felt like the devil was causing so many difficulties to be thrown my way, so that I would focus on my situation and not on my God...he is trying to distract me because he knows the good things God has promised me."

BE ON GUARD: RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Again, I do not want to give the stage to satan more than he deserves. However, his presence is real and it is something about which we need to be cautious. So, don't be alarmed when you are being blessed by God or you are serving God and you feel stones thrown at you. When you are striving and thriving for God, the attacks of the evil one will be upon you.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

Staying Strong in Him,