Not “If” But “When” Satan Attacks
It’s not really a question of “if” but “when” Satan will try hard to fight against the plans of God. I felt like Satan was especially on the attack during the summer of 2015, when my family led a campaign to Germany. So many things didn’t go as planned or were frustrating, and it seemed like Satan was trying to ruin our excitement and efforts. But thankfully, we were able to use God’s strength to push through them.
As we prepared to leave for our trip overseas, a couple of things happened that were not in the plans. About a week or so before we left, we found termites in our house. Ugh! Thanks to a great friend and pest control guy, he was out quickly to get rid of those awful things. Then, only a couple days before we left, we had a strong rainstorm and our office ceiling started to leak. It was a holiday weekend, so of course no one was really open until THE DAY we were scheduled to leave on our trip.
Once again, friends stepped up to help. A friend knew a roofer and personally called and asked if they could come out as soon as possible. Thankfully, we weren’t leaving until later in the day. The roofing company came out first thing that morning, checked everything out, and fixed the leak. Thank you again, Lord! God showed us again that His plan was greater than Satan’s.
One Problem After Another
What, then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
I felt like I actually got to see this verse face-to-face during that summer campaign. What a testimony to His goodness! One thing after another kept happening, yet God continued to work and allowed us to go on with the plans He gave us to do. We had a cancelled flight on the way to Germany, causing us to arrive one day late. I was feeling sick when we left and ended up going to the doctor in Germany for antibiotics. So, for the first couple of weeks of our trip I was without a singing voice. This was a problem since I was the music director and was also supposed to sing with the group!
One of our campaigners fell on some stairs and hurt his foot and needed to use crutches for a majority of the trip. My husband Clint got a bug bite or tick that got infected and had to take a strong dose of antibiotics in case it was Lyme disease. Clint also pulled his calf muscle at the end of our trip and needed crutches the last few days and for the trip home.
Realizing Satan was Behind the Attacks
Can you see why I feel so strongly that Satan was attacking us and trying to prevent the work we were trying to do? I’m thankful that in those moments, I realized it was Satan just trying to discourage us and prevent us from going on. That realization gave me the great motivation to not be discouraged, but to keep reaching for our goals and to do everything we could to ruin Satan’s plan.
Our Protection Against the Attack
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Fighting Back with the Armor of God
If we can acknowledge when Satan is attacking, we can fight back using the armor of God to protect us. God has given us this armor to protect us from evil and to keep us close to him. First, we have the belt of truth.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus needs to be our first protection. He is the truth that gives our lives purpose. We need to trust in Him to fight our battles for us and to guide us through all evil.
Put on Your Breastplate and Shoes
The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart. We must make the decision every day to choose God’s righteousness over the evils of this world in order to protect our hearts from being overcome by darkness. The shoes of readiness could represent the need to stand firm in our faith and be ready to bring God’s gospel of peace to others.
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!
Take Your Shield and Helmet
The shield of faith protects us from the flaming darts that Satan throws at us. Maybe those darts are doubts, worries, temptations, or difficult times. Whatever Satan hurls at us, we have to trust in God to be our protector and strength. The helmet of salvation is what helps sustain our confidence and assurance in our salvation through God. Satan wants to break our confidence in order to tear us away from God. Have you have had thoughts of doubt, worry, anxiety, and hopelessness start to take root in your mind out of nowhere? I know I do at times! I feel very strongly that these thoughts come specifically from Satan and this world’s evil forces. Praise God that He gives us so many promises of peace, hope, and love!
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Don’t Forget the Sword
The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word, which the Holy Spirit led men to write these divinely inspired words. We must continue to go to the scriptures to learn how to navigate through all of Satan’s attacks. By strengthening our knowledge of God, it will bring us closer to Him. Other ways we fight against Satan’s attacks are praying in the Spirit. Let the Spirit speak through our prayers by listening and keeping alert with all perseverance. Ephesians also says that we should be in supplication for all the saints. It’s important we encourage each other and pray for one another in times when we are under attack. If we share with one another when we are attacked, we will have our brothers and sisters to lean on and fight with us.
Have you ever felt like Satan was attacking you?
How did you fight against these attacks?
I would love to hear how God helped you through these times!
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He is the author of confusion and when he attacks, he thinks he got us, but thankful that God is bigger then him and God’s got us
Very true. Praise God for that!
I pray the Armor of God over my marriage, husband, myself and our kiddos almost every day! Great encouragement here friend. Thank you.
How wonderful that you pray that over your family everyday. Staying prepared at all times! Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for this encouragement today! It seems as if anytime you take a step more towards Christ, Satan is always right there waiting to cause you to fall! It is always good to be reminded that God gave us the armor we need to fight off those attacks! Amen and thank you!
And I think Satan does that because it scares him that we are becoming closer to God. He knows he is losing the battle!
I love the power of prayer and scipture. Our God is bigger and we csn rest in that.
Yes, that is so comforting to know!
When we were missionaries in Africa, we could really feel when Satan was trying to attack us and thwart our work for Jesus. I believe being in the Word and claiming God’s promises is very important. Putting on His armor!
Thanks for your comment! Love that! Being in the Word and claiming God’s promises!
Ephesians 6 gives us all our weapons
Yes, it does!
Great encouragement! I’m at home with my kids these days, and this is a great reminder to pray for protection on the ‘ordinary days’ as well as the ‘obviously out and about serving the Lord’ days. Being on a mission trip makes you on high alert, but at home, it’s easy to be complacent.
That’s so true! We should always be prepared!
Thanks for this. My family has definitely been facing one thing after another and I know God told me months ago that I needed to dig into the armor of God again, but I didn’t. I so needed this reminder.
I’m glad this is an encouragement and reminder to you. We all need reminders sometimes.
Yes, I’ve felt his attacks. I asked God to give me strength and wisdom to persevere.
So glad we can go to Him for our strength!
Such a timely piece for me to read as my blog crashed and is out of commission right now for I don’t know how long. In the midst of doing a giveaway and I have been having increased traffic. God is using the blog for good and I feel like Satan is trying to attack it.
I pray that God gives you strength to keep doing good!
“I realized it was Satan just trying to discourage us and prevent us from going on.” Isn’t that just like Satan to try to incapacitate us for working in God’s kingdom.
Absolutely!
Thanks for these details about putting on our armor. Yes, we need to proactively do this for sure.
Thanks for your comment!
Taking up God’s armor is really important when there is a spiritual attack. And even in moments that aren’t necessarily direct attacks, we should always take up God’s armor because it is always good and useful.
Yes, so true!