Be of Good Courage

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:13-18

As the ruler of this “kosmos” (world system), Satan has very precise schemes orchestrated to frustrate the believer in Christ. Recognizing and understanding his ploys can help us thwart his shrewd tactics and walk in victory.

The devil seeks to impede our spiritual progress by keeping us from prayer. He accomplishes this by propagating a defective doctrine of guilt. When we are overloaded with guilty feelings, we withdraw from God. This is Satan’s cruel hoax. Your guilt, all of it, was placed on Christ at Calvary. You are completely accepted by God. If you have sinned, sincere confession instantly restores joyful fellowship.

Satan’s other primary stratagem to foil our walk with Christ is causing us to doubt God’s promises. The spiritual conflict hinges upon faith. Do we really believe God will do what He says? Will He honor His Word? Can we bank on the Scriptures without reservation and expect God to fulfill His pledges? Absolutely. God’s Word is written by Himself. It is His unalterable Word to you.

Reject guilt. Be of good courage and refuse doubt. Satan’s chief schemes will be defused and God’s truth unleashed for triumph.

“...but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33