During my quiet time this morning, I opened my eyes to see a giant spider less than a foot from my bare feet. My secret spiritual place is a cozy corner of my living room and my armchair straddles a large area rug on the ceramic floor.
I love nature and have been known to gently escort ants or other benevolent critters outside on an index card. Not spiders. I don’t like spiders. And this one, well, she was BIG, hairy, dark, and menacing. If you know Florida, you know we have some spiders that can do you harm.
Without missing a beat, I picked up my Ugg-slipper knock-off and slammed it down on the fuzzy intruder. Brace yourselves: An ocean of tiny specks burst out, some scurrying, others still. I involuntarily cried out, “I’m so sorry!” for my execution of the mama and her babes. Immediately, a ripple of revelation flooded my consciousness, and I knew God was showing me something He wanted me to share.
SKEPTICS: PLEASE SUSPEND JUDGEMENT
The mother spider symbolized Satan and the tiny spiders represented the demonic thoughts the enemy employs to derail, discourage, and even destroy us. These have been paralyzing and undermining forces most of my life. Years of Bible study, therapy, self-help, and prayer have helped me consciously identify, dismiss, or challenge many of these dastardly thoughts that can define our life experience (Proverbs 23:7 says, ”As a man thinketh, so goes he”). Yet, some especially “automatic negative thoughts” remained--ANTs (as psychology calls them) I seemed powerless to reject.
UNDERCOVER AGENTS
Battle strategies are carefully guarded secrets and enemies advance undercover. Better still if you don't know...or believe...you have an enemy. Earlier in my Christian journey, I had a difficult time accepting the possibility of an actual devil, much less demons that actively played with my head or preyed on my emotions. Apart from the fact that the Bible refers to this fallen angel early and often, scanning the headlines can convince you there’s mushrooming evil at work. Studying the Bible and books like Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, and my own real-life observation, changed my mind. Once I accepted the possibility of an active enemy force working against good, I’ve battled hard to defeat these ANTS...or spiders.
In my faceoff with the scary spiders, God showed me that I had the power to defeat them immediately and permanently. He wants you to know, too.
BATTLE STRATEGY
If you battle with recurring negative, destructive thoughts that steal, kill, and destroy the abundant life Jesus died to give you (John 10:10), I urge you to pick up your spiritual slippers and crush them. However goofy or unlikely it may seem to you, fight back. Here some tools for fighting your foe:
1. Clean up your act. First, if you are knowingly and actively engaging in sin, you leave yourself open to attack and undermine God’s protection. It’s like a freighter leaving the safety of the shipping channel. You’ve voluntarily left the protected way and exposed yourself to known and unknown perils.
2. Know the enemy’s strategy. Cosmically, God’s enemy is defeated, but he’ll prey on your mind based on your known vulnerabilities, like Oreos beckoning when you’re on a diet or the sexy pop-up in your Facebook feed. One favorite strategy is to first seduce you, then when you take the bait, condemn you so you spiral. Don’t be paranoid. Be smart.
PLEASE ALSO KNOW that if you face fierce and frequent attacks, it means the impotent little weasel knows you’re a threat. God has a high purpose for you and you’re in great company with folks like Job, Joseph, David, Esther, Ruth, Jesus and many others who faced terrible opposition.
3. Recognize disguises. God warns that Satan presents as an angel of light and the Bible asserts that he’ll present bad as good and good as bad. Don’t be fooled by charming, alluring, or even lovingly kind appearances. Pray for wisdom and discernment!
4. Read Your Bible! God’s word empowers! Plus, knowing truth helps us recognize lies. Find and memorize Scripture that addresses your Achilles Heel and act accordingly.
5. Battle Aggressively. When the thoughts come, fight them, like you would a true physical foe. Banish them aloud. Reject the thought, countering it with a God-centered, positive reality. Journal the ANTS and God’s contradicting facts.
6. Share the Care. Tell a trusted confidante about your negative thoughts to disable their power over you.
7. Pray. These are dark days and fear can cripple us if we let it. Dwarf danger by focusing on the God of the Universe, who loves you and can handle anything that comes our way. Last but not least, prayer is truly your very FIRST line of attack. Praise and worship are also excellent weapons.
If you’d like more insight on this topic, please let me know and share what’s helped you keep the devil underfoot.
PRAYER:
Father, the enemy is cunning, baffling, and powerful, but you are greater. Help me not fall prey to the nasty, hairy spiders that keep me stuck, scared, or sad. Empower me to be aware of the snares and power I have in Christ to squash satan’s spiders. In Christ’s name I ask it. Thank you. I love you.
RESOURCES:
• Read and pray Ephesians 6:10-20 daily.
• Do a word study or google “Bible verses about satan or evil.”
• If you’re still skeptical, read “The Screwtape Letters” or watch “Nefarious” or “The Pope’s Exorcist” for a vivid reality check.
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