Today I want to provide a few more bullet points of awareness about Satan’s methods. Tomorrow we want to take a one-day break to comment on the election. However, today is relevant because many people’s peace has been upended by this election in addition to normal daily stresses. It has divided believers and even families. Let’s consider how these aspects along with current events stress us:
- He pushes believers toward isolationism, into their private “world of spirituality,” and complete separation from the world;
- He keeps believers so focused on their own spiritual growth and development that it becomes their primary focus, rather than the goal of being a light in the darkness;
- He convinces believers that a “lifestyle of moderation” is all one needs to display to be an effective lifestyle evangelist;
- He persuades believers to adopt a belief system that is just another category of life along with their job, sports, family, and hobbies—making believers think that Jesus is an “add on” to give special privilege, not the One for whom one lives his life;
- He tricks believers into thinking that being a little materialistic is not stupid because quality possessions last longer, are accompanied by less worry, and thus are the desires of a good steward; and
- He makes a believer into a “conforming hypocrite” by focusing on man’s doctrines and not a life wholly submitted to Christ.
- He desensitizes our consenting minds with TV programs that portray images that we would not allow our family to see in real life; and
- He uses our own vanity to push us into surgeries or whatever it takes to morph ourselves into a “desirable” product.
- He causes men to love the feeling they get from performing around women;
- He causes women to love the feeling of being able to manipulate men; and
- He contorts love into an emotion rather than a decision.
- He perpetuates of the image of a perfect partner, which brings about dissatisfaction with our spouse;
- He distorts of the relationship between sex and love by making men believe they must give love to get sex, and leading women to believe they must give sex to get love;
- He tells us that, while there should be four years devoted to preparing for a career, partners need not dedicate any time to preparing for their marriage;
- He temps us to focus on the daily annoyances imposed by our spouse rather than the blessings and support provided by him or her; and
- He promotes the belief that our spouse can meet our deepest needs, and the provision of disillusionment when they fail to do so.
There are so many “twists” to life that are there to make things difficult for us. We must be wise enough to see these subtleties. We must look beyond what is accepted and press toward what is acceptable to God and the Kingdom. Don’t let Satan sneak up on you, because he will. Use YOUR unseen power to clarify your path.
Love Dad