Satan’s Battle For Your Mind and How to Resist Him

Christians are in a spiritual battle, backed by Satan and he wants your mind, so how can we resist satanic spiritual attacks?

The Prince of Darkness

Christians are in a spiritual battle, backed by Satan and he wants your mind, so how can we resist satanic spiritual attacks? The Apostle Paul warns believers that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). I don’t know about you, but I am no match for these “spiritual forces of evil” and I doubt you are either. The prince of the power of the air is also called the “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4) and disbelievers are called the “sons of the devil” (John 8:44-45), so we’re going to need some help.

“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

Stand Firm

You can’t stand firm on your own and neither can I. We must put on the armor that God provides for us, meaning we must make the effort to put it on or take it up. We cannot afford to ignore this spiritual battle. An unseen enemy is even more dangerous than those of flesh and blood. At least you can see them! This is why it’s critical for every believer to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Eph 6:13). If we don’t, then we may not “be able to withstand in the evil day” when troubles and temptations come fast and furious. Praying is a vital defense against spiritual attacks but prayer is also a strong shield and refuge for those who “come to Him” (Prov 30:5; Matt 1:28-30; Eph 6:18).

Own Worst Enemy

We are not only fighting an invisible enemy who is bent on destroying us, or at least causing us to sin and ruin our Christian witness, but we are fighting our own flesh. It’s like the man looking at the mirror: “Aha! I’ve met the enemy…and it’s me!” The three things that sealed off the Garden of Paradise was the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. It got Eve…and it’s still claiming victims. Satan wins when people say, “Did God really say?”…or, “The Bible’s just written by men.” Satan managed to make Eve doubt God’s Word and Satan’s still doing that in a world that’s growing further and further from God…and closer and closer to Satan.

Enemy Territory

The Devil has access to your home thru the Internet, TV and radio.

If we want to resist the Devil and demonic influences, we must stay out of enemy territory. That is, we must not place ourselves in places or situations where we can be tempted. Going to a bar to shoot pool is fun for some, but for a former alcoholic, it’s not a good choice! He or she is likely to be tempted…and thus, sin. A person who has problems with pornography should not be going to the movies with a friend or spouse if it’s full of sexually explicit images and language (and it likely is!). By the way, almost all movies today are R-rated. Even the Internet is dangerous to the human imagination. I recommend putting in a G-rated or family-rated filter in your browser (under browser settings) so that there’s no “accidental” image that might tempt someone (or family members who share the computer) to lust. Lusting at images or movies of adultery or illicit sexual relations is like doing the real thing to Jesus (Matt 5:28).

New Creations

If we’re new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17) then we’ve got new friends in Christ. Or at least we should, so we can’t run with the former crowd if they’re still practicing sinful things. We are to be holy as God is holy. God commands us to come out of her (my people, i.e., Lev 11:44-45; 1 Pet 1:16; Rev 18:4). We’ve got new family and friends now (in the church). We need accountability partners…and yes, even me (Heb 10:24-25).

Soak in the Word

What I mean by “soak in the Word” is to saturated and mediate and contemplate the Word of God in your mind. Be daily in Scripture. Immerse your mind in the teachings of Jesus Christ. I have heard people say that when they start reading the Word of God, spiritual attacks increase, but when they read it on their knees and read where Jesus has overcome the grave, and where it mention the shed blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses sinners, and where Satan’s fate is sealed…sure and certain…then…the attacks lesson. You must realize Satan hates hearing Scripture. He hates even more the parts where Jesus conquered the grave and defeated the god of this world. He has been judged and someday, sentence with be sudden and swift. Satan is furious he can’t rob our salvation from us (Rom 8:37-39; John 6:37-39, 10:28-29). The best he can do now is to influence our minds and persuade us to give into the pride of life, the lust of the flesh or the lust of the eyes (or all three!). If we fail to resist and flee from the Devil, we’ll likely fall into sin (James 4:7-8). The results are that Satan will win a battle by ruining our Christian witness to the world.

Conclusion

I would suggest we stay out of areas and situations where we’d be tempted (notice I say “we,” meaning me too!). We should also avoid those who are still practicing sin (either today or the past crowd we used to follow). And I believe we should be in the Word, day and night, and every moment we can steal away, to be steeped in prayer to God. We must be intentionally taking up and putting on the spiritual armor that God has provided for us. I pray you have already trusted in Jesus Christ and discovered that you have access to the spiritual, invisible armor, well suited for an enemy who is also invisible, and putting it on so that our Christian witness is not ruined or we give cause for having God ‘s holy name blasphemed by our behavior.

Finally, if you have still not trusted in Christ, God will say no to you regarding your entering into the Kingdom. Repent today and trust in Christ or face God’s judgment after death (Heb 9:27), or at Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), whichever comes first.

Here is some related reading for you: How Can We Identify When Satan is Scheming Against Us?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Armor of God, Demonic Attacks, Resist the Devil, Satanic Attacks, Spritual Attacks, Spritual Warfare