Are spiritual enemies—powers of darkness—trying to get me?

Daniel 10:12-13He said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.”

Matthew 4:1Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

1 Peter 5:8-9Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

The Bible clearly teaches that human beings are involved in a spiritual battle with the devil and his forces. Far from excluding us from this spiritual battle, faith puts us right in the middle of it. We are in a battle for our very souls. We must recognize that and prepare ourselves, or Satan will take advantage of us.

Matthew 13:39The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-12A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

1 John 2:16The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Satan is alive and active, and his legions of demons are always on the attack. A battle rages in the spiritual realm—a battle we can’t see but one we will experience if we seek to serve God. We need to rely on God’s power, not our own, so we can stand strong and resist temptation. Most of all, because we do not always know or understand the evil that is threatening us, we need God’s guidance and power in facing an unknown enemy. We can have peace knowing that God has already won the battle over death and has the power and desire to save us.