In the last few weeks, I have been doing Bible studies with some girls where the main topic is the enemy's attacks. Despite being in the church for years, I realized that I only recognized these attacks when they were practically causing big problems. I recognized that the enemy was after them, but I had never stopped to look at my attacks and identify where they started until now.
I have said before that the enemy is very strategic when it comes to his attacks. When he attacks, he has already studied you enough and know your weaknesses, and he perfectly knows in what area a low blow can take you out of the race. The enemy doesn't punch the air; he knows perfectly when and where. We ask ourselves: When did I give reasons or open the door to be attacked? When he presents us with temptation, and we don't know how to resist it.
There is nothing more tempting than a slice of pizza for a dieter. Once someone offers us a slice of pizza, we cannot get it out of our mind, we can imagine the taste, and we can think about that slice of pizza day and night until we can no longer bear the temptation and eat it. The enemy does the same to tempt us. As he already knows our past, he knows how to draw us in a very precise way. What he is going to put in front of you will be so available, so accessible, so easy to reach that, although it does not come from God and we know it, we doubt and even justify reasons to fall into it. If drugs were your greatest temptation in the past, what do you think the enemy would use? When we are presented with the opportunity to have or do something that puts us to the test, even knowing it is not the best for us, we begin an internal battle with temptation.
The enemy knows what he is doing because, on many occasions, I have personally fallen flat before temptation. Temptation takes our focus away from the eternal and onto the temporal. Our human nature naturally pulls towards sin; therefore, these attacks are highly effective.
What does the Bible say about temptation? 1 Corinthians 10:13 says: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Along with the temptation, God gives us a way out to avoid being victims of it. Therefore, we must strengthen our prayer life and have solid ties in our relationship with God to identify the way out from temptation. The devil tempted Jesus himself, and do you know what Jesus used to defend himself? The word of God.
What the enemy is going to put on a silver platter to tempt you is always something that does not go according to the word of God. Knowing God's word and what It says helps us to escape from temptation quickly. Something important to say is that temptation NEVER comes from God. It is necessary to know this to be aware of who is hiding behind it the next time you are tempted. James 1:13 teaches us: When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. The temptation comes from the one who wants to steal the eternal for a fleeting pleasure. Once we understand this, that beautiful and desired thing presented in front of us or that 'great opportunity' is offered, you will know how to discern the enemy's attack behind it.
Sometimes resisting temptation is difficult and challenging. I have seen myself sitting in my car, on the verge of falling into temptation, having a great internal battle. Thank God for the Holy Spirit, who guides us and reminds us of God's promises in the Bible for those who know how to resist temptation. That Spirit speaks to my heart and makes me start the car and turn around, moving away from what was meant to make me fall.
Recognizing who is behind what is tempting you to fall is essential to come out of them unscathed. Pray and ask the Spirit of God for direction and once you have overcome temptation, read the verse I share below. Once you resist, you won a battle against your enemy.
Blessings!
