Dear Family and Friends,

We were driving through a rather raunchy part of downtown this past week when we spotted tourists wandering the streets. One could tell they were not local because 1) they wore bright red matching aloha attire, and 2) they were wandering around downtown.

We all know better, don’t we? If we must walk downtown, we know to keep our guard up…and don’t wear bright red!

That said, let’s talk about keeping our guard up, especially if we resolve to improve our spiritual health. Why?

Because that six-week barrier that keeps our ‘New Year’ resolutions from becoming ‘All Year’ resolutions could very well be satanic in source.

Charles Spurgeon once preached:

“Consider how precious a soul must be, when both God and the devil are after it.

You never heard that the devil was after a kingdom, did you? No, he is not so foolish; he knows it would not be worth his winning; he is never after that; but he is always after souls.

You never heard that God was seeking after a crown, did you! No, he thinketh little of dominions; but he is after souls every day; his Holy Spirit is seeking his children; and Christ came to save souls.

Do you think that which hell craves for, and that which God seeks for, is not precious?”

Let’s also be mindful of what Peter once wrote, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” ‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ESV

Simply put, what drives satan to be so satanic is his quest to separate us from God. It would make his day if we gave up on our resolutions after six weeks. Satan loves it when Christians walk away from God. And he knows that Christ followers who stop following Jesus are one step closer to turning away.

His tactics for separating us from God are numerous, too many to share in one sitting. So today I share just a few.

He causes us to doubt God, His Word, and His Goodness

Satan knows it’s impossible, at best difficult, to follow a leader we don’t trust. If he can break that trust, guess who will step in?

When he found himself in prison, John the Baptist had his doubts about Jesus. “The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Luke 7:18-20 ESV

We are all familiar with Eve’s discussion with satan in the garden. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 ESV

Abraham and Sarah had doubts about God giving them a child in their advanced age (Genesis 18).

Thomas famously doubted Jesus was resurrected (John 20).

He causes division between God’s people

A tactic commonly used in war and politics is called divide and conquer. An enemy divided is easier to defeat. Julius Caesar built an empire using this tactic. As did Hitler. We see it used in today’s politics.

Even Jesus said this to be true. “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” Matthew 12:25 ESV

Examples of division between God’s people are all over the Bible, starting with Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. Remember Saul and David? And Paul and Barnabas?

He causes distractions that draw our eyes from our Lord

I think we all agree that life in today’s world can be one long continuing distraction. Oh how we wish for the simpler days of the past. I’m sorry to inform you that satan has been creating creative distractions for a very long time. 

We all know the trouble King David got himself into when distracted by Bathsheba. But not all distractions are so obvious.

In Luke 10, Martha thought she was doing the right thing by serving Jesus. Meanwhile, her sister Mary sat at the Lord’s feet to listen to His teaching.

This is what Jesus said when Martha complained, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:41-42‬ ‬‬ESV

He causes us to be discouraged

When life is hard and nothing seems to go the way we thought it would, it’s natural to become discouraged. The Bible is full of stories about discouraged people of God.

The Israelites trekking from Egypt to the Promised Land were discouraged. For three years Jesus’ disciples dreamed of the marvelous Kingdom of God. It took just a day, a Friday, to defeat and discourage them.

Discouragement is the first step to losing faith and trust in God.

But can I remind us that there is no reason to lose faith. In these stories and more, the Bible tells of how God turned discouraging times into promises fulfilled. And let’s never forget that God continues to fulfill His promises. 

I still remember the first time I read Jesus’ first commandment – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  Matthew 22:37 ESV

All sorts of thoughts raced through my mind as I read this, one even questioning the size of God’s head.

I’ve since come to understand that while we may think God set this commandment for His benefit, this commandment is actually for our benefit.

God is well aware of what satan is up to. The intent of this commandment, God’s intent, is to protect us from satan and the multitude of trouble we get ourselves into.

So let’s always be mindful of the source of the doubts, divisions, distractions and discouragements that block our faith walk. And always remember that the best way to overcome barriers is to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.

In closing, never forget how precious you are. I wish you a safe and blessed year as you live 2022 for Christ.

In love always,