Not Today, Satan!
Do you ever have trouble knowing for certain that you are under attack spiritually? Personally, most of the time it takes me a while to notice. I’ll find myself thinking: “Why have I been feeling so stressed out lately? Why does it seem like God is so far away from me? Why am I so afraid of making the wrong, as though God’s grace and mercy doesn’t exist?” Usually, I do not notice the enemy is attacking me, placing burdens on my back until those burdens become…. so….so…heavy.
The devil is a sneaky one, and he is as subtle as he is evil. He bets on the busyness of life blinding us to the status of our souls. He hopes we will not notice so he can keep piling on the attacks until we simply lose hope. The devil wants us to slip and fall down, and he wants to keep us down. So, my dear friend, it’s important to know when you are being attacked by the enemy and how to break free.
Here is what God’s Word says:
Satan roams around like a lion, looking for someone to destroy.
“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith.”
- 1 Peter 5:8 TPT
The enemy is a thief, whose only mission is to steal, kill, and destroy.
“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I (Jesus) have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” - John 10:10 TPT
Fear comes from the enemy, but God’s perfect love casts fear out.
“Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.”
- 1 John 4:18 TPT
So, thankfully the answer to this question is pretty simple.
How do you know if you are under spiritual attack? If you feel like you are, then it’s probably true. Now, stress, heartache, and fear are all normal responses to traumas that happen in life. But, if suddenly you are “not feeling like yourself” or battling temptations you didn’t have a problem with before, or find yourself frozen by fear out of the blue… there is a reason for it. Spiritual heaviness (a burden you feel in your mind and emotions) never happens by accident.
Truthfully, if you live for Jesus then you are always under attack. What often trips us up is that when circumstances are good, we feel strong enough for the battle. However, when life is stressful, it’s easy to grow weary and wonder, “How did I get here? Is God still with me? Did I do something wrong?” And the enemy won’t ever let up, not even for a moment. The devil doesn’t feel an ounce of pity for any of us. This is why it’s wise to stay close to the Lord and arm ourselves with His Word.
The devil’s weapons of choice are burdens we know all too well: anxiety, fear, dread, doubt, shame, the temptation to sin, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, excessive arguments and strife, etc. You are not imagining the burdens in your spirit. You are not losing your mind. You are a target. The devil is after you. His mission is to steal God’s blessings for you, blind you to God’s love, keep you from healing, block the freedom Jesus won for you, kill your hope, and trap you in darkness once again.
So, how do we possibly begin to fight back? Keep a tight grip on the very things the devil wants to steal from you. Grab hold of faith, hope, and love. God’s love, being the most important of all.
Let’s revisit a verse from earlier in this lesson:
“Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.”
- 1 John 4:18 TPT
No matter what the enemy tells you, God loves you and you are safe with Him:
“My Father, who has given them to me as his gift, is the mightiest of all, and no one has the power to snatch them from my Father’s care.”
- John 10:20 TPT
This passage reassures my heart every time satan tries to make me doubt God’s love:
“ Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For he gave his life for us, and even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph?
Who could ever divorce us from the endless love of God’s Anointed One? Absolutely no one! For nothing in the universe has the power to diminish his love toward us. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations, dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love…” - Romans 8:34-35 TPT
The best way to hold on to God’s love is to invest time and honesty into your relationship with Him. Reach out to the Lord when you feel weak, tired, and overwhelmed. Don’t be too proud to admit you are struggling. God loves you and He will never make you feel ashamed for needing His help. No, God is aware, so very aware of how much we need Him, and He always makes Himself available for us. When the children of the Lord cry out, He hears us every single time.
“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you… And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.”
- 1 Peter 5:7, 10 TPT
When I’m under attack, it comforts me to know that Jesus was once “led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.” (Matthew 4:1) The same God I call upon to help me combat the enemy knows what this fight feels like. It’s a fight Jesus won, hands down, and He will help me to overcome as well.
The temptation of Jesus shows us four very important things:
1. The Spirit of God led His only begotten Son into an intense battle with the enemy that He would win. Later on, Jesus again fought the kingdom of darkness during His trial and crucifixion. Jesus’ empty tomb is a clear indictor of who won that battle as well! All of this reminds me in the most refreshing way that a victorious life does not mean a struggle-free life. Because, how can a person become victorious without strife? It’s impossible. There has to be a fight in order to win. God would never leave you to fight a battle alone.
2. Most of the time, when we face a spiritual attack or are tempted, it does not mean we have done something wrong. Often, it is a lesson in a disguise.
3. The enemy may be a roaring lion, but he is a lion on a leash. God promises to bring every life experience together for our good (Romans 8:28), and this includes spiritual attacks.
4. Jesus does not judge any of us for struggling. He relates with our struggles because He has been there. (See Hebrews 4:15.) Most of the battles we face may be unknown and overwhelming to us, but Jesus has been trampling Satan for a long time. He’s got this!
Here are some passages from scripture for when you are under siege:
Psalm 91
James 4:7-8
John 15:9-11
Ephesians 6:10-18
1 Peter 5:10
2 Timothy 1:7
Revelation 12:11
We pray with people from all over the world as they walk through difficult circumstances. Many are praying for healing in their bodies, souls, families, and communities right now. If you are in the fight of your life right now, please know that you are not alone. We have a dedicated team of prayer warriors who consider it an honor to pray for you. Please leave a comment below, or send us a private message on our contact us page. You matter to God and you matter to us.
- Kelly
