In life, we are often faced with learning and doing things we have never done before. School, work, relationships, marriage, parenting, and life itself constantly require growth. When we step into something new, we do so without instincts. At first, everything feels uncertain. It takes time, repetition, and perseverance before experience becomes wisdom and confidence. Eventually, instincts develop—and it becomes a joy to know what you are doing and to do it well.
There is one instinct every Christian must intentionally develop: the ability to recognize a spiritual attack and respond immediately.
God’s Word does not leave us uninformed about this reality. Scripture is direct and authoritative:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith…”
—1 Peter 5:8–9
Peter is not offering a suggestion. He is issuing a warning followed by a command. The enemy is real. His intention is destructive. But believers are not told to panic, retreat, or analyze endlessly—we are told to resist.
If we fail to recognize spiritual attacks, Hosea’s warning can quietly become our experience: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The enemy does not merely attack circumstances; he attacks understanding. One of his most effective strategies is deception—especially deception that leads believers to stop resisting.
Over more than four decades of ministry, I have observed a consistent pattern. When Christians experience prolonged hardship—whether financial pressure, relational strain, health challenges, or spiritual dryness—they often forget that they are under spiritual attack. Because they do not recognize the source, they do not resist. When resistance is absent, discouragement settles in, and the blame game begins.
The questions start forming. God, what is happening? I’ve done all I know to do. Why aren’t You doing something? Slowly, blame shifts toward God. Then it often moves to those who represent God—pastors, churches, or fellow believers. Statements like, “God has never done anything for me,” or “I prayed and nothing happened,” begin to replace faith-filled declarations.
This is not accidental. It is a deliberate strategy of the enemy. If Satan cannot destroy a believer outright, he will attempt to isolate them—pulling them away from God and from the very people God once used to establish them in faith. Church involvement declines. Fellowship fades. Some search for a new church, convinced the problem lies elsewhere, until eventually they stop attending altogether. Bible reading and prayer diminish. A critical spirit grows. Old patterns resurface. When this happens, the enemy is succeeding in knocking believers off course.
The Apostle Paul brings clarity to the real battlefield:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers… Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
—Ephesians 6:12–13
Notice the instruction: stand. Not retreat. Not withdraw. Not blame. Stand.
God never instructs His people to shrink back when hardship comes. Scripture says plainly that the righteous live by faith, and that those who draw back place themselves in danger. But then it declares with confidence: we are not of those who shrink back. We are of those who believe.
So what are we to do?
God calls us to press into His Word and prayer as our anchor—and then to fight back. We are commanded to resist the devil, to rebuke his attacks in the name of Jesus, and to stand firm in the truth that God loves us and promises to help us. Stop looking for someone to blame. Satan is the enemy of your soul—not God, not your pastor, and not fellow believers.
Love God. Love your pastor. Love your friends. Run toward them, not away from them.
In prayer and throughout your day, proclaim God’s promises out loud. Take authority. Resist the enemy. Stand firm. Thank God for His faithfulness, and remind the enemy that his future is settled. His defeat is certain. Your future is secure in Christ.
I want you to know that I am standing with you in prayer today. Win the fight in the spirit. Refuse discouragement. Be honest with God about how you feel—but do not surrender ground. Resist the enemy as Jesus did. Proclaim God’s promises over your life. Find others who will pray with you in faith.
As you do, you will begin to see God leading you step by step into victory. The waters will calm. Strength will rise. Clarity will return.
Lift your head and proclaim in faith:
“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.”
—Psalm 9:9–10
