The devil is sly and malicious, with hopes of destroying your relationship with God. Fear is one of the devil’s most effective weapons used to stifle believers. In scripture, Satan and demons often involved themselves with spiritual darkness, deception, and death. They thrive in these environments. The devil is also a trickster and can invoke fear by getting you to believe things about God that aren’t true.
The devil wants you to stress about things outside of your control so that you don’t rely on Christ, the One who strengthens. He wants you to be so fearful that you will rely on the enemy, the One who will do everything to make you doubt all forms of joy and happiness. He wants you confused, anxious, even angry about your life circumstances so that you will and eventually become distant from God and rely on your understanding.
The devil also wants to trick you into believing the Bible is a collection of myths, hoping that you will doubt God’s Word and even His existence. He also wants you to believe that the Bible, written nearly 3500 years ago, is no longer relevant in our modern world because it was written so long ago. Yet, God’s Word is real and has real significance. More than 40 different writers wrote it over 2000 years with remarkable consistency. It explains life and the human experience in a way no other book has or ever will.
Another thing the devil will do is find your most vulnerable points and use those to attack you. Isaiah writes, even the youths shall faint and be weary. Young men shall feel exhausted, but waiting on God renews their strength and displays godly wisdom, for there is an empowerment in waiting, resting, and relying upon God and not ourselves.
When we’re fearful, we’re often frustrated, which is when the devil will swoop in. During a spiritual attack, the enemy uses various circumstances to repress the mind and bring great frustration. When you are under siege, you may find yourself feeling on edge, anxious, or agitated. In these moments, a simple conversation with your partner or friend can turn into an explosive argument, and a simple thought in your head can take you down a roller coaster of negative emotions. You may also find yourself saying things that are out of character or not feeling quite like yourself.
The devil also attacks us when we’re alone because he knows we are most vulnerable when others aren’t around us. He also thinks this is when we’re at our weakest point. The Bible tells us, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). He knew Jesus was alone, and he tempted him. The devil can detect when you’re feeling alone. In these moments of the attack, he wants you to believe that you’re all alone. When you feel like the devil won’t leave you alone, it’s important to remember that God is with you!
While many Christians fear the devil, we shouldn’t because we have power in Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are free through the waters of baptism, our lives begin anew. When we live our lives for Jesus, our lives are completely transformed.
If you are living your life without fear of the devil, you trust Jesus in all that you do. You think about the decisions you make based on your commitments to Christ and your faith. If you know a decision you may make isn’t reflecting the faith walk you’re on, you will steer away. You give yourself to Jesus and Jesus alone and are happy when you do things pleasing to Him.
A life without fear of the devil also includes a strong prayer life. When we commit ourselves to prayer, we confess our troubles, our longings, and our praises. We lift prayers of concern, and also of thanksgiving. Having an active prayer life is an indicator that you’re living your life for Christ. When you actively reach out to Him, it reflects how meaningful God is in your everyday life. First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. Prayer doesn’t always have to be you sitting alone in a room, with your eyes closed and your hands crossed. Prayer can happen anywhere you are. If you’re constantly in dialogue with God, we are fully committed to the responses and promises our Heavenly Father offers.
If you are part of the body of Christ, then be assured the devil is going to try to destroy you. While everything can’t be blamed on the devil, many things are a result of his work, and it’s important to know when he is working in our own lives. If we are not on guard, he has the power to destroy us and separate us from our Heavenly Father. There is nothing he would love more. Yet, when we are protected and guarded, we have the power to push back at any of his attacks and live without fear of him.
