Enjoin the Battle
The very mention of the devil's name evokes fear in many people. For others, the devil seems to be a joke.
As Christians, we are to take the devil seriously, but we are not to be overwhelmed by him or give in to his
temptations. We are not to ignore him or dismiss him lightly, but rather, we are to face him, resist him, and use
our faith to overcome him.
We can take this stance only if we remain close to Christ Jesus, turn to the Holy Spirit daily for wisdom, courage,
and direction, and above all, choose to believe what Christ has said to us: we are God's forgiven children
and the devil has no claim on our eternal spirits.
Others may pray for us, believe with us, and encourage us in our battle against the enemy—all to our benefit—but
in the end, we cannot hide behind the faith of others. Facing the devil is something each of us must do if we are
to grow in our relationship with God. Facing the devil exercises our personal faith. It is an act of personal obedience
to God. We must be willing to face the enemy of our souls if we are to be in a position to receive all the
blessings and rewards that God has for us.
In Christ Jesus, you can and will overcome the enemy. Engage in the battle. Trust God today for
a victorious life!
From Overcoming the Enemy: Discover God's Plan for Winning Spiritual
Battles by Charles Stanley. Copyright 1997 by Charles Stanley.
