Six Ways the Devil Works in Your Life

“Am I demon-possessed?” I have been asked that question dozens of times. Only on a couple of occasions did I truly think in my heart the person in front of me was actually possessed by a demon. In those situations, I led the person to claim the greater power of Jesus Christ in their life as they made the confession, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Here is a promise for you. If you have committed yourself to be a follower of Jesus Christ and fully filled with the Holy Spirit, you cannot be taken captive by a demon. You are not under the power of the kingdom of darkness. We read what Jesus did to the forces of darkness through his death and resurrection:

Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

We are encouraged in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Then why do you still have trouble with the work of the devil? Most of the time what you are experiencing is satanic oppression rather than possession. There are many deceptive and strategic ways the enemy tries to take you out.

If you have ever had to endure a season of spiritual discouragement and depression – maybe you questioned your faith, or you felt that the presence of God’s Spirit was far away – consider the following list of six ways the devil works in your life.

One: You are driven to despair.

You feel overwhelmed, depressed, and anxious. Your present situation appears to offer no way out. There seems to be no hope.

The enemy wants you to seek anything and everything that could offer a momentary escape, except God. Many addictions begin this way. We never overcome our present challenges so we reach for a short-term numbness to help us forget them.

Two: You are tempted with pride.

You spend time comparing others to your life, your family, your successes, your occupation. When you compare yourself to others, you judge. You search for someone worse than you so you can say, “At least I am better than them.” You are motivated to try to earn your salvation. You end up doing the right things for the wrong reasons.

The enemy wants you to be proud so you don’t have to take responsibility for your thoughts, words, and actions. There is nothing to repent of. There are no apologies to make. If you don’t find any need for improvement in your life, you won’t improve.

Three: You are tempted with doubt.

Satan wants to destroy any element of faith within you. He knows that the heroes of the Bible were people of great faith. They were not perfect people without sin. But rather they were people who believed God could do great and amazing works through them.

The enemy’s goal for your doubts is to not just stop you, he wants to stop the church. Instead, Jesus spoke about the advance of His church and said the gates of Hades will not prevail.

Four: You have trouble with impure thoughts.

Is there something that is your spiritual Achilles heel? Satan knows what it is and he wants to take you out. He sits and waits for times when you are stressed, occupied with other things, lonely, or bored. When your resolve is low he feeds your thought life with temptations aimed at your weaknesses.

The enemy knows that just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a follower of Jesus is only as strong as their greatest weakness that has not been submitted to the grace of God.

Five: You are tempted by worldly friends and family.

Do you share the house with someone who knocks your faith down? Do you work with someone who knows you are a believer but they constantly try to lead you in the wrong direction? Do you go to school with someone who mocks your faith?

Satan works through those relationships. He wants the world to influence you rather than you being the light of the world.

Six: He doesn’t tempt you.

How is that a strategy you ask? He lets you coast along thinking everything is fine. You drop your guard and become a little lukewarm. Then, when you least expect it, he surprises you with an onslaught of spiritual attacks. You become like a spiritual example of the fireman who forgot how to best respond to a fire because he no longer does any training.

The enemy doesn’t want us putting on our spiritual armor every day. He doesn’t want
us ready in season and out of season. He hates it when we pray without ceasing. The
best way to combat him is to be ready at all times.

Have you recognized any of these? Be on your guard. We are in a spiritual wrestling match.

“Do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27).