Have you ever read that book by Priscilla Shirer, Fervent or the book The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis? I’m looking at them both on my desk, I’ve read Fervent 3 times, but man when the storms come we tend to forget things that once impacted us. I haven’t fully read The Screwtape Letters yet but fully plan on it and if you know me at all Im a reading junky. That’s my weakness, I love to read and study and it’s even better when its with a friend. One of my sister firends sent me The Screwtape Letters because she knows the importance of knowing the enemy and how he sets us up. If we don’t know the enemy well we tend to blame others, or throw a pity party.
I can honestly say that the father came after me around Thanksgiving of 2024 everyday he was saying to me a word for the year for 2025. That used to be normal for me but over the span of 8 years I have slowly just walked farther away from my truth which was the Word. I was throwing a huge pity party, waiting on someone to save me from the hell I walked my self into. I was blaming God, my dad, my friends, church people for turning on me.
He said to me Determination, I laughed and fluffed it off. For real. I was in not shape mentally to even try to fight my way out of a paper sack… but he wouldn’t stop every.single.day. It was getting louder and more on repeat. You don’t know the place my mind and heart was in… 8 years of non-stop disappointment. On the fourth day of this I finally said ok determination, I looked up the word and lost it crying. The meaning of this word from google is this; firmness of purpose; resoluteness and the process of establishing something exactly by calculation or research. You might not know me very well but my 8 year old person was so firm in who I was IN Christ, the boldest person I know and the most disciplined person.
I knew exactly what the Lord was saying to me when I looked that up. The next day he gave me a scripture for the year which I never used to get before so I was excited about it. Philippians 3: 12,13. I love the TPT translation it reads; 12 I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that Im pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. 13 I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this, however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. Come on that’s so good, right! Man, reading that just beams me up haha.
I want to get to my blog today which is about knowing your enemy… why you ask. Good question, why would you live ready if you didn’t know you were gonna have a fight? You wouldn’t, you would sit in your pity, never have a relationship with Christ and just go to church and rely on the person behind the pulpit to feed you. Soldiers have to be trained before they can go to war, right? This is no different. Being a Christian you are living in Satan’s world and you have a huge target on your back so you better gird up and know how to fight. Let’s get into it…
Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemy
When it comes to spiritual warfare, the first rule is this: you can’t fight what you don’t understand. The Bible makes it crystal clear that we have an enemy—and he’s not playing games. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But don’t let this intimidate you; instead, let it prepare you. Knowing your enemy means recognizing his tactics and standing firm in the truth that you are already victorious in Christ. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you Philippians 4:13
The Enemy’s Identity: Who Is He Really?
Let’s be clear: the enemy isn’t your kids, your husband, or even that difficult family member we wont name names. The real enemy is Satan, a fallen angel who opposes everything good that God stands for. He’s a liar, the father of lies (John 8:44), a thief (John 10:10), and an accuser (Revelation 12:10). His goal? To steal your joy, kill your peace, and destroy your faith (John 10:10) . He thrives in deception, making you doubt God’s promises or feel unworthy of His love.
But here’s the good news: Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus declared on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The battle has already been won, and you fight from victory, not for victory. You are seated in the Kingdom and have been given all the righteousness you’re gonna have the day you are born again. All of Heaven is backing you up! So when the enemy whispers lies, remind him of his place—under your feet (Romans 16:20).
Recognizing the Tactics: How Does He Attack?
The enemy isn’t creative, but he is crafty. His strategies often involve subtle manipulations that can go unnoticed if you’re not paying attention. One of his favorite tools is doubt. Remember how he questioned Eve in the Garden of Eden? “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). He’ll do the same to you, planting seeds of uncertainty about God’s Word and His plans for you. He’s a punk.
Another tactic is distraction. The enemy loves to keep you so busy, tired, or overwhelmed that you forget to seek God. This is how he worked on me for 8 years, used others to drag me down. He’ll throw in temptations that look appealing but ultimately lead to guilt or separation from God. This is why Ephesians 6:11 urges us to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Don’t overlook fear, either. The enemy thrives on making you feel small, powerless, or afraid to step out in faith. But here’s the truth: God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Knowing the enemy’s tactics equips you to stand firm and call out his lies.
Arm Yourself: Fighting Back with God’s Power
Now that you know your enemy, it’s time to fight back—not in your own strength but in God’s. The Bible is your ultimate weapon. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.” When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He fought back with Scripture, saying, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4-10). You can do the same. Remember not every thought is yours and the devil can put thoughts and suggest for us to sin, that is temptation… you haven’t acted on it so its not sin. Resist him and he will flee, laugh at loud and quote scripture. If it was so easy for him to destroy you he wouldn’t have to suggest it to you, he would just do it, but the way it works is that he has to have you agree with him to fulfill his plan.
Prayer is another powerful weapon. When you feel attacked, don’t just sit there—pray! Ephesians 6:18 tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Prayer invites God’s power into your situation, quote scripture and pray in tongues until your body lines up or situation lines up to what your after, if its peace don’t get up till you have it. We’re not begging God were worshiping him for already saying yes! If we are in agreement with Him then it’s done!
Finally, surround yourself with truth and community. The enemy loves to isolate you because he knows there’s strength in numbers. Find a friend that will push you to His promises and keep you going… even if she has to drag you. That’s a true friend, that’s what Melissa did for me, she knows me, knows my heart … she lives 2 whole days away from me and she was on me about who I am, and fighting for me and with me to get on my feet, she was holding my hands when I couldn’t. That is a beautiful friend that you want on your team. Period. Find a Melissa.
You Are Equipped for Victory
Don’t let the enemy scare you into silence or passivity. Remember, you are a child of God, and the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11). When you know your enemy, his schemes lose their power. You can stand firm, declare truth, and walk in the victory that Jesus has already secured.
So the next time you feel the enemy pressing in, take heart. You’re not fighting alone. God is with you, and the victory is already yours. Keep your armor on, keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep moving forward in faith. The enemy doesn’t stand a chance against a believer who knows their identity and stands firm in God’s truth.