This post is part of Lindsey Bell’s blog tour to celebrate her new Bible study and devotional, Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too). To celebrate the release, she’s giving away a HUGE bundle of books! Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win. Drawing will be Friday, April 29th. You can get more entries by commenting on other blogs in the tour as well. Get a full list of participating blogs here:
Satan’s attacks come in a variety of ways. He attacks us with trials of this life: sicknesses, deaths, car accidents, job loss, infertility, broken relationships, etc. He also attacks us from within: depression, anxiety, and doubt.
In the past five years, he’s attacked me in two primary ways: with secondary infertility and with doubts that resulted from our recurrent miscarriages.
He often whispers into my ear, “Did God really say…” just like he whispered to Eve in the garden years ago.
Did God really say He would never leave you…because it sure does seem like He has left?
Did God really say He loves you…because if He really loved you, He certainly wouldn’t allow this?
Did God really say that prayer is important…because it doesn’t seem to be doing any good in your situation?
Maybe Satan has whispered similar questions into your mind too. Here are a few things that have helped me fight off his attacks.
3 Tips to Help You Fight Off Satan’s Attacks:
- Look to God’s Word.
Just as Jesus used the Bible to fight off Satan’s attack in Matthew 4 when he was tempted in the desert, we can use God’s Word to fight off Satan’s attacks too.
Our feelings can lie to us, but God’s Word will always tell us the truth.
- Look Out to Others.
God often uses the Church to help the Church.
What I mean is this: when one of us in the body of Christ is struggling, God often uses another person in the body to encourage him or her.
When we want to fight off Satan’s attacks, the first place we look is in the Scriptures. But it’s also wise to seek accountability, encouragement, and assistance from other believers who have your best interests at heart.
- Look Up to God.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says this: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
God is faithful, and He has promised us that he will provide a way out when we are tempted. So the next time Satan whispers into your ear, look to the Word, look to others for advice, and look to God.
What other things help you fight off the attacks of Satan?
Don’t forget to leave a comment here to enter the book bundle giveaway!
About Unbeaten:
Why does life have to be so hard? If you’ve ever asked this question, you’re not alone. Difficult times often leave Christians searching the Bible for answers to some of life’s most difficult questions.
Questions like:
- Does God hear me when I pray?
- Why isn’t He doing anything?
- Does He even care?
In Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too), Lindsey Bell walks with readers through the stories of men and women in the Bible who went through difficult situations. In this 10-week Bible study and devotional, she addresses many of these questions and helps readers learn how they too can be unbeaten.
About Lindsey Bell:
Lindsey Bell is the author of the Bible study and devotional, Unbeaten, and of the parenting devotional, Searching for Sanity. She’s a stay-at-home mother of two silly boys, a minister’s wife, an avid reader, and a lover of all things chocolate. Lindsey writes weekly at www.lindseymbell.com about faith, family, and learning to love the life she’s been given.
Such a great topic that needed addressing! We all have had those “did God really say” questions! Great advice!!!
“Did God really say…” Yep, we all battle those questions, don’t we? That was the very first way Satan tempted Adam and Eve, and he’s still doing it to us as well. Thanks so much for commenting here, Cynthia. I have entered you for a chance to win the book bundle! Blessings:)
Rising above my pain then show me how?
Yolanda, I know sometimes advice from God’s Word can feel too abstract. Sounds good, but how do we do that practically? How do we “look up to God” or “reach out to others?” In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Paul tells us that God wants us to comfort each other in our troubles with the same comfort God has given to us. Unfortunately, we often hesitate to let others know we are in pain. We like to hide behind our masks and pretend all is okay. On the other side, we are often so busy we fail to slow down enough to see and help those around us who are hurting. I don’t know your specific situation, but I do encourage you to reach out to those around you who have experienced troubles and pain. Ask for their prayer and advice. Then in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul writes about God’s strength stepping in when Paul was weak. How does that work?! I’m not sure of the specifics, but I do trust that God will hold us up with His strength when we admit our need and weakness to Him. He waits for us to turn to Him. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of His strength in the moment, but when we look back we can see His activity.
Hi Yolanda, I’m so very sorry you’re going through a hard time right now. While I don’t know your specific situation, I think Kathy gave some great advice…let other people know you’re struggling so they can minister to you, dig into the Word to look for Scriptures that apply to your situation, pray, pray, and pray some more. Be honest with God. When you find your thoughts being attacked by Satan, try and replace those thoughts with Scripture. It’s definitely not an easy battle, but it one that we know who will win. Our Father has already won, so we can’t go wrong in sticking with him.
These encouraging Truths was just what I needed to hear. Thank you! I have felt and asked these questions numerous times. God bless you for addressing these issues.
Hi Brenda, Thank you so much for your comment. I’m glad to hear that this post spoke to your heart today:) I have also entered you in the book bundle giveaway! Blessings.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Kathy!
Thank you Lindsey for sharing! Great truths and very practical for our lives!
The “secret” is always going to our Dear Father’s Word. To re-FOCUS on Christ and have the ATTITUDE of praise and the SACRIFICE of praise and thanksgiving. (Hebrews 12:2,3;13:15)
YES! Absolutely.
Great message. Thank you.
Thank you, Melissa!
Truth!
🙂 Thank you, Keely!
I am so glad that God laid this on your heart to share. There are so many of us who are hurting for the same or different reasons. These are questions that sometimes we don’t seem to have answers to. I know that God loves me but sometimes it is hard to understand. Thanks for sharing your heart and God’s word.
You’re absolutely right, Melissa. We often know things in our heads but still struggle to believe them in our hearts. Hugs, my friend. And thank you for commenting. I have entered you in the giveaway.
I am on vacation with my sister who is very sick and Satan has been attacking like crazy. Yesterday I was worried about her because she was sleeping a lot and the previous day she mentioned having headaches and blurred vision. We are in a country that does not gave the best medicine and will not be prepared should something happen. I began to question why I decided to bring her here. In my doubts and anxieties I was reminded through a song that God is in control. The song is Anchor for the Soul and it is one of my favorites.
Oh wow, Sonnetta. I’m praying for your sister. What a scary situation to be in for both of you. I’m so thankful God ministered to your heart through that song, though. What a wonderful Savior we have! Hugs, my friend.
Sonnetta, I’m lifting you and your sister in prayer this morning!
Thank you for sharing your heart on this subject.
Thanks, Tiffany! I’ve entered you in the book bundle contest!
Great reminders to look to the Lord for what HE says!
Thank you, Nancy! I’ve entered you in the book bundle contest!
The enemy is so incredibly crafty. We must constantly be aware and have on our full armor! Thank you for sharing!
Such a great point, Angie! The armor of God is so important!
Our world is always saying that you can do it by yourself. We get stressed and things become so hard. We need to always remind ourselves that is not about me but it is all about God. The one who can do it and will bring us through our trials and even our day.
Great point, Lois. We do get so caught up with ourselves, don’t we? We forget that this life is really all about HIM!
The word of God is living and active and a great weapon against the enemy. And Jesus was a great example of how to use it. Satan tries to twist the Word and use it against us, which is an important reason why we need to write it on our hearts. We need to be able to refute his lies.
SO true, Kayla! Funny that you quote that verse…I’m going to talk about that at the workshop that I’m speaking at this week. God’s word is so powerful, but we have to know it to use it!
You are such an inspiration with your writing. Thank you!
Hi Shannon, Thank you so much! What an encouraging comment:)
Show me how to fight Satan. Give me the tools to combat the attacks.
Yolanda, as a couple of others have shared here, our best weapon of offense against Satan is God’s Word. It is our “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). Stay in God’s Word and start memorizing key verses. Use a concordance to find verses that speak to what you are specifically battling. Also ask a few close Christian friends to pray with and for you and to hold you accountable for your walk with God. And remember that Satan has no power over the One who holds you!
Hi Yolanda, I agree with the advice Kathy gave you. Our best attack against Satan is the Word of God. So find specific scriptures that apply to your situation and memorize those. Then, when you feel attacked by Satan, speak those Scriptures aloud just as Jesus did. I would also advice you to spend a lot of time in prayer. Be completely honest with God about your struggles and He will help you with them. I’m so sorry you’re struggling right now, and I’m lifting you up before the Father.
It said my first try did not go through. I use scripture, memorized and the Bible, praise and prayer when I am fighting against the evil one. Thanks for this blog and the book looks interesting. I will investigate it further. thanks for sharing.
Thank you Mary for coming by and sharing your thoughts with us! Keep praising and praying!
Hi Mary. Yes! Great tips! Thank you for sharing. And thanks for checking out my book 🙂
To leave the pain of defeat behind would be a miracle.
Marilyn, defeat can be knock us off our feet! But what I find truly amazing is that God in His grace can use that experience to refine and strengthen our faith and make us more like Jesus. He will use it to equip us for the work He has for us in the future. God never wastes anything that He allows into the lives of His children. If we let Him, He will use it for our good and His glory!
Hi Marilyn, I don’t know what you’re going through today or what’s leaving you feeling defeated, but I want you to know that I’m praying for you. We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
After ten silent years of infertility, I’m ashamed to say I lost hope of being a mother. I decided and secretly concluded that God didn’t want me to be a mother. I could never get pregnant, in fact I couldn’t get pregnant if my life depended on it! We had an donor and 10 procedures and not a one ever worked. I lost faith! But not all of it..there was this teeny glimmer of unconscious hope that didn’t make it into my consciousness. I didn’t quit. And thats what I have to tell myself.. I did NOT quit! So as horrible as I feel that I was in the pit of despair, I shouldn’t beat myself up too much. As an aside, I had one friend and one friend only who had hope for me when I did not. After ten years, people stop asking. Even Christian friends said things like “maybe you are meant to be a mother through supporting a child in Africa, monthly”. But my friend, she didn’t quit either. She believed for me when I did not believe much for myself.
But my story has a happy ending oh yes it does! Because my phone rang one day and it was the call I had lost all hope of getting. Our son was to be born in three weeks and we had been selected by a birth mother! I had lost all hope I didn’t even pick up the phone! I thought it was just our new caseworker calling to introduce herself. Just like that, my life changed. My son was exposed to drugs and alcohol prenatally. He has problems, big problems. But he’s ours and I wouldn’t change one second of my life. I can honestly say I thank God for my infertility. Isn’t that crazy?? When I was in the trenches I was in agony and deep sadness. It was brutal. But now, I am so grateful because without infertility, I wouldn’t have my son. I became a first time mom at age 43 through the miracle of adoption.
I do believe it was Satan whispering the thoughts that made me lose all hope. I wish I had this book back then.
Kerry, thank you for sharing your journey with us. I love your honesty and transparency. We need more women who will be open and honest about their walk with God so that others will be comforted and encouraged!
Kerry, thank you so much for sharing your story. What a powerful testimony of God’s goodness in the midst of pain!!
As I bring back my little one from school to home he gets so distracted by the activity outside till we step inside home he thinks it’s all good and fun and it’s best to be out instead of going home but after entering home he calms and starts realizing that he is hungry and needs to rest and relax and also fun things to do after it. God taught so much through this how many times have I been tempted to get distracted from the life God wants me to live. Well by the love of God and His grace have learnt through the Word of God always as I go home to God and start having His word my daily bread what rest and calmness it gives me to overcome the enemy from the inside out because He is the one who is going to be fighting the enemy and I just have to rest in God’s word. I enjoy memorizing with my little one as I am a beginner in memorizing God’s word .Praying God helps me to memorize His Word . God bless and use you abundantly Lindsey Bell. Thank you Kathy for sharing this.
Anita, I LOVE what you shared about letting God fight your battle for you!! This is such a beautiful truth from the Word of God!!
Really encouraging…thank you for sharing ♡
Thank you, Lindsy!