The One Who Shall Remain Nameless

MOST DAYS, I assume the devil is in the details—and I mean that literally.

• Bad day? The devil is trying to pull me down.
• Bad Wi-Fi connection? The devil is trying to thwart my work.
• Bad kids? The devil in pigtails.
• Bad shopping experience? The devil in a red polo and khakis.

Okay, just kidding about the last two. But I do give the devil too much power sometimes. I want to recognize that we have an enemy who is looking to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10), but I also don’t want to give him too much credit, knowing that as believers, we have the power to resist his temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13).

When I picture the devil, I tend to imagine someone who is strong and can easily overpower me, but I forget that he scurries at the mention of the Lord’s name. Ephesians 1:22 says, “He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church” (AMP).

The devil does have the power to tempt us, but he can’t force our response. He can’t force us to sin. And in Christ, we have the incredible power to resist him.

As I have been writing this book, I have felt heavy attacks from the devil to the point where I thought I would never write another book again. But I know that’s the very thing he would want me to do: succumb to the temptation to give up and let him render me powerless.

The devil wants to leave us so fearful that our only response is to bow out of God’s incredible plan for our lives. And because one of our greatest missions is to train our kids well, doesn’t it make sense that he would try to trip us up daily in our motherhood? Doesn’t it stand to reason that our homes are our most action-packed battlefields? The devil wants that territory more than we can even imagine.

We have to fight hard, knowing that we have the power through Jesus Christ to defeat the evil one. We are not as weak as we feel some days. James 4:7 says, “Submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you” (AMP). Hallelujah! We are not under the authority of Satan. The next time he shows up and tempts you to sabotage your own life, remember the truth of this verse.

I love that we have the example of Jesus being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4). What sticks out to me most is that Jesus had spent the previous forty days fasting and praying. He was armed and ready to do battle with the devil. With all three temptations, he responded to Satan using the Word of God.

I want to learn something valuable from Jesus’ example. I don’t want to flub a response or cower in shame or play the victim when temptations come. I want to stand on the Word of God and push the devil out.

Lately my husband and I have been teaching our four-year-old, Vivi, about the devil, and that has to be one of the craziest lessons we’ve taught yet. As Vivi voices her litany of “I can’t,” we’ve started talking about how sometimes the devil wants to make her feel like she can’t do things. When this happens, we ask her to echo something like this: “Devil, get out of here! You are a liar, and I am not going to believe you.” Then we pray to our heavenly Father, who is so much more powerful than Satan. And though it’s her battle, I’m left empowered and wanting to crush the snake in my own life too.

The devil is no match for our powerful God. That’s why I’m done saying his name as I end today’s devotional. Why waste our time on him when we know that the one “who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4, NIV)?

ACTION STEPS

Write down these verses and have them handy when you feel the one who shall remain nameless press in: John 10:10; Romans 8:38-39; James 4:7; 1 John 4:4.

PRAYER

Father God, you are all-powerful. I know this, but some days I give the devil more power than I should. Make me strong and remind me of the authority I have over him because Christ lives in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MORNING QUESTIONS

TAKEAWAY TODAY | Do you tend to give Satan too much credit or not enough?

Can you think of a time when you used God’s Word to speak truth to defeat the evil one?

DREADING TODAY | Is there anything you’re dreading today?

REDEFINING TODAY | If so, what is another way you can view that thing you’re dreading?

ASKING GOD TODAY | What request are you bringing before the Lord today?

EVENING QUESTIONS

REFLECTION | How did you see Satan at work today? How did you see God at work even more powerfully?

LITTLE VICTORIES | Where did you see God show up even in small ways, reminding you that you aren’t alone?

WHITE FLAG MOMENTS | When did you want to hide or escape today?

MEMORY OF THE DAY | What do you want to relish and thank God for?