Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10
From the Fall until now there has been war between light and darkness, between truth and lies, between life and death. Brokenness, imperfection entered in. Every day we suffer the consequences, not only worldwide, but also in our personal life there is a spiritual battle going on.
Satan, the father of lies
From the Fall until now there has been war between light and darkness, between truth and lies, between life and death. Brokenness, imperfection entered in. Every day we suffer the consequences, not only worldwide, but also in our personal life there is a spiritual battle going on. Quite often this is a battle in our mind. One can be constantly accused of sin and thoughts filled with darkness, until all hope is gone. These circumstances can be a real ordeal.
In Matthew 4 Jesus is tested by satan. The satan is also called ‘the father of lies’. He can sneak into our life as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). The satan knows the Word of God very well. We see that in Matthew 4. He has a lifelong experience in studying human behavior. He knows us well. It is his goal to distance you from God. The satan wants you to die without hope, to no longer have faith in Jesus. He uses all means to exhaust you and make you desperate.
Spiritual Battle
In my life this resulted in depression. Apart from negative and destructive thought patterns, for which I needed therapy, there was also a spiritual battle going on. I experienced a season in which I felt strongly that thoughts were imposed on me to punish myself for mistakes that I made. I began to physically damage myself. These thoughts were compulsory and I became convinced that this was an intrusion in my mind that came from darkness outside myself. This influenced my relationship with God. For instance, these thoughts said that I was not allowed to pray because God was disappointed in me. I realized that satan was trying to control my thoughts and have a foothold in this self-
destructive behavior in my life. Feelings of shame, guilt and failure brought me in a vicious circle I could not come out of in my own strength.
Therapy and deliverance counseling have helped a lot. I learned to take charge over my thoughts and emotions, to be honest to myself and to talk about things that bothered me. In the deliverance counseling I learned to be honest to God and to bring my feelings of depression to Him. This was a place where I could prayerfully bring things into the Light. I learned to pass behind me all the lies, for instance the thought that I did not fit in this world. Step by step Jesus brought me into freedom and the urge to hurt myself diminished. It was not easy. Through the years I got accustomed to the darkness. It took multiple sessions before I could say out loud: ‘I, Marline, am a beloved child of God the Father’. Everything within me forbid me to say this, but once I had spoken it out loud, something changed in my heart. Step by step I began to believe it.
Words have power
Words have so much power. If you want to make a stand against the arrows of the satan it helps to speak the words of God out loud. Jesus does that too in Matthew 4. He confronts the satan with other Scriptures from the Bible. He even sends him away! Make a habit to start your day by speaking out loud the truth of God over your life.
Let this be a guideline for you:
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil.4:13
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Tim.1:7
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom.8:31
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom.8:37
And should these attacks continue, dare to send away the satan in the name of Jesus!
The satan wants to isolate you and me. He wants to let you believe that you are the only one. That you need to shut your mouth about the things you have done wrong. Shame and isolation are exactly the spots where he wants you to be. But don’t believe the lies of satan! No matter what you might have done wrong, go on your knees and confess it to God. There is forgiveness, mercy and restoration with Him. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
When you believe in the redeeming work of Jesus, you are a child of God and you have eternal life. That is the truth!
Do you see this contrast? There is a huge difference between satan and God. The satan brings you in isolation, but God brings us in a relationship. The satan comes to steal, to slaughter and to let you perish, but Jesus has come to give us life in abundance (John 10:10). The satan can deceive you, but no matter how he tries, he will not be successful. He will always encounter Jesus! Thanks to Jesus satan has no hold over us anymore. Don’t be afraid, because he is a defeated enemy. Forever the power of satan is broken.
Prayer: ‘Dear Father, thank You so much that we are conquerors because of You. Help me to fill my heart
and thoughts with Your truth. Teach me to no longer believe all these dark and negative thoughts,
but to send them away in the name of Jesus, Your Son. Give me the strength to focus my heart on
the positive and encouraging words of You Lord! Guard my heart, fill me with Your peace. Thank you
that I can carry the shield of faith with which I can extinct all the fierce arrows of satan. Amen
Read also: When your mind is taking it’s own way
