Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8

We were on a walk when my dog suddenly slowed, and my attention was drawn to the street. There before me was a huge snake. Three things happened simultaneously: I jumped, I screamed, and I pulled my dog away—only to realize afterward that the snake was dead. I recovered quickly, and we resumed our walk. The next morning as we walked, my thoughts were elsewhere—not upon that snake. When we came to the same spot, the exact same thing happened: I jumped, I screamed, and I pulled my dog away. This time a car was passing. I scared the driver so badly she slammed on her brakes. That snake was dead, but I forgot. Twice a snake that wasn’t life threatening interrupted my walk.

We believers have an enemy who tries to interrupt our walk with Jesus. Our enemy is Satan, whom Jesus described as a thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) He pursues his work of deceiving, discouraging, and deterring people from following Jesus.

Though the power of our enemy is great, the power of God within us is far greater. (1John 4:4) God’s power enables us to resist the schemes of the enemy. As we resists him in the name of Jesus, he must flee. (James 4:7) And the most important truth—Satan is a defeated foe. The blood of the Lamb, Jesus, has overcome him. (Revelation 12:11)

Even as that dead snake on the road could not destroy me, neither can Satan destroy believers who are secure in Jesus Christ. He is active and working to interrupt our walk with Jesus. He wants to make us stumble into sin, discouragement, or fear.

Believer, are the lies and schemes of the enemy inhibiting your walk with Jesus? Choose to put off fear, discouragement, or sin through the power of the One who defeated Satan. Jesus is forever with you, and His power will enable you to resist the enemy’s schemes.

Jan Burkhart