The enemy is extremely short-sighted when it comes to predicting the future, with only one goal in mind: the destruction of mankind. This has been his prime objective since the day man drew his first breath, and he and his cohorts have kept to this single mission over and through the generations of this world. He has caused many to believe he is equal in power to Me, and that because his strength is on the same level as My own, it will take a lot of effort to subdue him. But this is just a lie he has perpetuated in those he has fooled. Because he is the master of deception, every word he speaks originates from a falsity, meant to divert a person’s focus onto a different reality, one that is sure to lead them into bondage, shackled with the chains of darkness and despair. For once they have accepted his version of the future, these individuals have ultimately cooperated with his plan by following the instructions he whispered in their ear, urging them to act in a certain manner so that the narrative he presented, the one he played out in their mind, would become their actuality.
However, the enemy does not possess the ability to foretell the future. The only thing he knows for certain is his end, as the fitting punishment for all of his dark deeds. Yet, his lies have tripped-up mankind for years because his voice has been allowed to be the loudest one in the room: the one a person listens to because what is being said seems logical, appears to be the most rational course of action, which inevitably leads those who fall prey to his deception down the dim road he has made. For the enemy is very skilled at setting traps, at devising a plan to ensnare the unsuspecting and make them prisoners to the future he has designed: one filled with the emptiness of regret. Somehow, they could not see their decisions were made based on his suggestions: the words which spoke of self-preservation as being the top priority (regardless of what this course required to accomplish this outcome). But since they have grown accustomed to the sound of the enemy’s voice, they don’t realize who it is they are actually listening to, and who it is that has been guiding the course of their life.
Yet for the one who is discerning, who takes the time to examine what they are hearing, it is easy to determine where the words are coming from and who is projecting the thoughts in their head: those ideas that are urging them to act in a self-serving manner or that depict only a negative version of their future. So when the appearance of unavoidable calamity is ahead, they are urged to choose the path of least resistance as the better course of action, as it is best to leave well enough alone and refrain from taking steps to reconcile the matter, even if responding with passivity is the suggestion, or just ignoring a problem, as it would take a miracle to resolve the issue.
So again, many are deceived by his strategy. Whether it is to induce brash behavior or lull some into complacency, the enemy’s ambition is still the same and will never change. For he is not a friend to man and is bent on ruining many lives. His advice is meant to lead a person astray, drawing their heart away from the only Voice that is worth listening to, the one filled with Truth and love.
For when I speak, though what I say may present a challenge and may require their mindset to shift, I desire only to see them grow and mature as one who is known as My child. But since My way of operating seems nonsensical to how they usually function, the instructions I offer are often dismissed out of hand: without being given much consideration; causing many of My chosen to remain locked into the enemy’s methodology of doing what, to them, feels comfortable. So how many lies have they believed about their identity, being told that they only deserve a mediocre portion, and so exist in a life only half lived?
Yet, for each of My children, there are promises I have decreed over their lives: those that are divinely inspired and abound with the bigger dreams I have imagined for them: a life that is not restricted by the limitations of this world, nor stymied by the remarks of the oppressor. So for the one who has learned to recognize My voice, and who can differentiate mine over any other, there is nothing left to hold them back from realizing their full potential, or inhibit them from becoming who I created them to be. Once My children have a firm understanding of how My voice sounds, they can then distinguish who is speaking to them and reject the lies they had accepted for so many years, thus revealing a greater sense of freedom within. For their thoughts are no longer contaminated by the enemy’s deceptions, having been trimmed of every unhealthy point of view, making room for My words of Truth to be established so even their thinking is revived with new life; instilling a more positive outlook because their attention now dwells on My glory and splendor, focused on all that is lovely and pure.
When My children stand in their authority and rest on the name of My Son, the pressuring thoughts of the enemy are abated, chased out along with every distortion and fabricated word, leaving these with a wide open space inside for My Spirit to fill. For this is the territory each of My chosen must reclaim: those places within that the enemy has been holding, having been purchased with a lie when they bought what he was selling, giving him permission to enter. For when they believed his words were true, and accepted his rendition of their identity, they unknowingly committed to carrying his misleading propaganda throughout their days, like excess baggage, weighted down by the unnecessary burdens his words have created; keeping many of My chosen from knowing the feelings of true freedom.
So then, My own must realize (while not giving the enemy undo attention) that he is extremely crafty, using a subtle approach when trying to acquire ground. Just a simple distortion swallowed, taken in and ingested, is all the enemy needs to begin his campaign of trouble. Remember: even a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The enemy is like a false teacher who claims to be an expert of the “truth”, who makes convincing statements that sound reasonable to his audience, but are really just fabrications meant to cause a person to stumble and fall into the pit he has designed: one deep enough that they will require assistance to climb out. (However, to extricate themselves is not an option. The only way to reclaim their standing is through divine intervention: a collaboration with Me.)
What so many forget is that the enemy was created too, so I know all of his tricks, and quite honestly, he is not very original. Over time he has been using the same wily schemes to trap mankind, making his plans easy for Me to read. Because I am omniscient, I have the foreknowledge to know what he will do, and so have created the perfect strategies to defeat every one of his dark works. He is nothing but a nuisance that can easily be eliminated from an individual’s life. This is simply done by invoking My authority over him as one covered with His blood, simply by speaking out the name of My Son, the sacrificial Lamb and true Son whose title carries the power to defeat the enemy and render him useless, regardless of what this foe has led man to believe. He does not stand on equal footing with either Me or those who have been grafted into My Kingdom, and therefore should not be feared, even though the way the enemy has propped himself up in stories, and now through media, is as one who is ranked at My level. This is only a smoke screen meant to frighten man into submission by using fear to capture a person’s heart.
Something to remember when you see him portrayed in these grandiose ways is that he is a liar and known to those in My Kingdom as the father of all lies, the perpetrator of untruth. So like the traveling salesman of old, he promotes wild claims about what he is selling by exaggerating his real jurisdiction when it comes to My children. For he cannot assert dominion over their lives or maintain an already held position without express permission from them, because each of My chosen is given the same leverage that My Son carries, as the undeniable consequence borne through His sacrifice of love. For the weight of His title encompasses the whole of humanity, so that any who choose to can accept Him as Savior and become a part of My eternal family: those who are forever rooted in My Kingdom; who then, because they are citizens of My realm, are known as overcomers, having learned the secret to soundly defeating the enemy, able to retake what rightfully belongs to them.
Though this may require them to engage in a battle or two, fought with weapons of My unseen dimension (if these will hold to their position of My chosen), then the enemy has no choice but to surrender his ground, leaving them bearing the caption of “victor” over their heads. For unto each of My children I have made this promise, having given My word of assurance, that if they will surrender their life to Me, and make the partnership agreement that allows Me to lead, then their heart can be freed from every stronghold and barrier the enemy set up within them when they accepted his words as “truth”: when they first believed what he was saying about their circumstances at the time: when the emotional injury they felt in those moments caused them to accept his lies, and to give him the invitation he was after to occupy space within their inner being.
Yet to these I say, “You have the power of eviction”: the right to demand that he leave. For though you have grown accustomed to him loitering around, it is time to cast him out: to demand he leave the premises of your inner man and throw him out! But be ready, for although he may put up some resistance and cause a fuss, he must eventually succumb to My authority. When My chosen solidly plant their feet in the confidence of who they are in Me, nothing of this world has the power to overtake them. For I have decreed they are “more than conquerors”, meaning victory will always be the result of any struggle, no matter how it appears on the surface level of their life, or what their eyes can see. For the enemy will use the situations of the day to day to bolster his claims that he is right and so should be allowed to stay. But what these must remember is: the battle is not waged using the natural world, and is not fought from this vantage point. The engagement process for My children always begins and ends from an internal perspective, using the eternal approach of My Kingdom: from Heaven to earth, as those who look to Me for instruction to receive their marching orders; who don’t regard one another as their foe because they understand who the real enemy is, and thereby adjust their warfare methodology and approach to fend off the true villain: the one who desires to destroy their soul.
So then remember: to eject this annoyance from your life altogether is not as difficult as he would like you to believe; but it does involve a shift in your thinking when it comes to who really holds all the power. Though the enemy has a few tricks up his sleeve, he will never attain the stature of My omnipotent authority, and so must always submit to My will. Although many assume the enemy can do as he wishes, and destroy on a whim, this is not how it is in reality. For he cannot lay a finger on anyone unless he has first been given permission.
Consequently, he and his evil forces roam this earth seeking those who will offer them admittance by using the power of suggestion as their way in, thus duping the unsuspecting and taking their hearts captive. Therefore, the Truth must be liberally applied to life on a continuing basis as the way to fend off these mental assaults. For then the enemy’s efforts will be exposed rather quickly, ruining his credibility. For the words I use always speak to your identity: of who I have created you to be. I will never encourage you to run and hide, or build up walls of protection around your heart.
My children are found standing in courage, ready to face every challenge with love and tenacity, unwilling to yield any ground in their life to unkindness by approaching each situation and person with the attitude of one who has been forgiven: someone who knows what it means to walk in the gift of grace, and so extends this same mercy to others; ready to disregard any slight or inconsiderate behavior, thus disarming the enemy of any ammunition, leaving nothing to use against them. When My children fill their days singing My praises, with a thankful heart that is heard rejoicing and lifted in worship, making bold proclamations about who I am and declaring My promises out loud, the enemy will flee, for he knows by their battle cry that these have no intention of surrendering or waving the flag of defeat.
So to these, I say, “Stand! Hold your ground!”. For if you will push back against the enemy’s voice, fight back with the faith I have firmly planted inside you, your continued resistance to his pressuring words will eradicate his presence from your life once and for all. Again I say, “Stand!” with feet that are immovable, for they are set in the firm rock of salvation, and so cannot be forced to move. Hold your ground!