When the Devil Tries to Sneak Up On You

He did it again. The devil whispered a lie into my head, and I believed it. Of course, I didn’t know it was him. I thought it was just me. But it wasn’t.

Did you know the devil wants to sneak up on you? He prowls around like a lion just looking for the right opportunity.

If Satan came to you in a little red suit with a pitchfork and announced himself as the devil, you wouldn’t believe a word he said. But he is cunning and disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). When he deceived Eve, he even quoted Scripture—albeit twisted and distorted.

He has a collection of old tapes from your past, and he pushes rewind and play, rewind and play. Oh yes, he knows which buttons to push. He also uses personal pronouns like “I” instead of “you.” The thoughts sound something like this: I am a failure. I am a loser. I can’t do anything right. I’m ugly. The thoughts sound like you, feel like you, and before you know it, you think they are you. That’s the reason it’s so difficult to detect the lies. They sound just like us.

In 1 Chronicles 21:1, the writer notes, “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” Of course, David thought it was his own idea, but the Bible clearly states it was not. He would have never counted his fighting men if Satan had stood before him and said, “Hey, buddy, I know God wants you to depend on Him and His power, but I think you should count those fighting men just to make sure. You never know if God is going to come through for you. This way you’ll know just how strong your army really is.”

The devil knew David would have thrown him out by his hairy toe if he’d shown up in bodily form, so the crafty manipulator put the thought in David’s mind. David thought it was his own idea, and off he went. Nine months later, when the census was complete, David felt guilty for his disobedience. God forgave David, but he still had to suffer the consequences of his actions.

Satan knows exactly which lies to whisper in your mind. He has watched you over the years and is well acquainted with your insecurities, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities.

Do you tend to get discouraged? He will plant seeds of discouragement in your mind.

Do you tend to struggle with rejection and loneliness? He will put ideas about rejection and loneliness in your mind.

As Peter warns us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). It’s up to us to recognize the lion’s growl of lies, and reject those lies with truth.

Let’s practice together:

The Devil’s Lie: You are condemned.

Truth: I am forgiven and free.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

The Devil’s Lie: You are a loser.

Truth: I am a conqueror.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

The Devil’s Lie: You should feel insecure.

Truth: I am secure.

Those who fear the Lord are secure (Proverbs 14:26 nlt).

Heavenly Father, help me detect the lies of the enemy in my life. Help me to see if any thoughts do not line up with Your truth, and then give me the wisdom to reject the lies quickly and completely. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What is one lie from the enemy that you tend to struggle with? What is God’s truth about that lie? Leave a comment and let’s share. If you don’t know the truth to replace the lie, that’s OK. Let’s hop in and help each other!

Do you ever feel that you’re not good enough, smart enough, or just not enough, period? If so, it’s time to silence the lies that steal your confidence and awaken the truth that you’re amazingly created and equipped by God. Today’s devotion was adapted from my book Enough: Silencing the Lies that Steal Your Confidence. Get your copy today and start believing the truth about who God says you are! Also, consider purchasing one for a friend who is struggling to believe the truth about who she is in Christ.

Also includes a Bible study guide in the back.

Be on the lookout next week for a new prayer card just for husbands! Praying Scripture for Your Wife from Head to Toe!