Session 7

How to beat Satan at his game

From Finding Freedom from Sin and Shame: A 7-Day Devotional

Every elementary class has at least one student who enjoys telling on others. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t know the rule or if you’ve always been kind to them, they are going to tell the teacher rather than talk to you. 

If you’ve ever had the satisfaction of seeing a teacher punish the tattletale rather than you, then you know the particular sense of justice that comes from seeing someone’s plan for destruction turned against them. 

We see this in the Bible, too. In 1 Samuel, David cuts off Goliath’s head with Goliath’s sword. In Esther, Haman and all of his genocidal desires die on the same gallows he built for Esther’s uncle, Mordecai. 

One of our peculiar joys as believers is the opportunity to turn the enemy’s plots and weapons against him. In sin and affliction, we take the “fiery darts” the enemy throws at us — such as fear, anger, doubt, shame — and we turn them back on Satan by running to the cross and declaring Christ’s all-sufficiency. 

In fear, we can declare and glory in Jesus’ absolute authority. In doubt, we can celebrate the magnitude of His love. In shame, we can reach out for His forgiveness. The apostle Paul knows the secret of this peculiar satisfaction. The “thorn in his side” became a way for him to channel God’s empowering grace (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

The enemy is not smart. He’s looking for easy targets. He’s less likely to bother someone who’s learned to turn everything to the praise of Christ.

Reflect: 

• What’s one thing you can praise Jesus for today? (Pro tip: When you can’t think of anything “good” about your circumstances, look for the good in your past and in His character.) 
• What do you need from Jesus to overcome the battle facing you today? Take a few minutes to ask Him for what you need.