Christians encounter a variety challenges every day. We are keenly aware that the way of the world is antithetical to God and His ways. We are also painfully aware of our weakness to overcome our fleshly desires. But do we realize that we also have a spiritual enemy? Satan, whose name means adversary, is a menacing foe who has made war on God and His people.

We must understand the reality of the spiritual warfare that we face against Satan and his minions. Many Christians go to the extreme of either ignoring the reality of the battle, or attributing all of our problems to Satan. We must understand the strategy of Satan as he seeks to prevent us from experiencing the abundant life that God intended for His children.

The Apostle Peter warned us to be alert for our adversary may attack us overtly as a wild animal:

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Job encountered this type of attack – Satan destroyed his children, his possessions, and his health. Satan wants to destroy us, but our responsibility is to stand strong:

So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. (1 Peter 5:9)

Although Job felt great sorrow and pain, he maintained his faith in God:

Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God. (Job 1:22)

We must realize however, that Satan also attacks us covertly and that may be one of his most effective strategies. We don’t realize the danger until we are already in the trap. The Apostle Paul gave us this warning:

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Just as the serpent deceived Eve, so too, we may be led astray by the wiles of Satan. Sun Tzu in The Art of War sheds light on the effectiveness of deceit, “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

Satan is most effective when we least expect him to attack. We must understand Satan’s strategy and realize that he may attack us overtly or covertly. Therefore, we must be vigilant and stand firm clothed in the armor of God. Satan is a formidable foe, but we must remember that greater is He who is within us, than he who is in the world.