Satan wants nothing more than to enter certain areas of your life so he can gain a stronghold. Heβll try anything to throw you off center, distract you from your focus, and render you ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
And I believe, after more than 30 years of ministering to women, that there are common areas he attacks β not just in women, but in any of us. As long as weβre aware of his strategies, we can be on guard to keep him out of his targeted entry points.Β
These are the five areas of your life Satan wants to enter and control:Β
- Your heart β so itβs not Godβs alone.
Thereβs a reason Godβs Word tells us: βAbove all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from itβ (Proverbs 4:23).Β Β Satan knows he has an entry point into your life if God is not first in our hearts. Godβs first commandment, set forth under the Old Covenant, was: βYou shall have no other gods before meβ (Exodus 20:3). And Jesus restated that under the New Covenant when He was asked what is the greatest commandment and responded by saying ββLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mindββ¦β(Luke 10:27).Β Satanβs greatest desire is to prevent you from giving GodΒ allΒ of your heart so he will constantly dangle people, things, and desires in front of you β anything to distract you so he can erect a false god in front of you that you donβt even realize you have.Β Β He will try to lure you with a false god like your career, a spouse or love interest, a dream or goal, a hobby or lifestyle. I know many women whose first love is their bodies, so they spend more time in the gym working out, than letting God work within. Itβs a subtle way of starting to love other things more than God.Β Β Some of us love food, money, recreation, our children, a substance, or a βfeelingβ (like being in love, or feeling energetic) more than God, Himself.Β Β Guard your heart by keeping Christ on the throne of your life so Satan doesnβt try to sneak anything else in there.Β
2. Your worries β to make you doubt Godβs love and provision.Β
Satan wants you stressing, because then youβre not resting in Godβs ability to care for you. Women tend to stress over the temporal β bills that must be paid, whether or not a man will come into our lives, if weβll be able to have a child, what someone is saying about us, how our body looks, and so on. Men tend to stress about their jobs, providing for their families, and whether or not they are βmaking the cutβ in several areas of life. Then thereβs health concerns, fears about our aging parents, and other situations that can crowd out Godβs peace in our lives and even cause us to begin to blame God for our circumstances. Donβt let Satan in this door through his tantalizing βwhat if?β questions and the doubts he weaves through your mind.Β Β God instructs us in Philippians 4:6-7 to βBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesusβ (NASB). Keep praying about your concerns and keep thanking God ahead of time for what Heβs about to do, so Satan doesnβt get a stronghold in your mind through your worries and fears.Β
- Your everyday thinking β so youβre just like the world.
Itβs amazing how many people profess to know God and follow Him, yet their thinking patterns are just like those of anyone else in the world. Satan loves that. He wants you to be so absorbed with the ways of the world that you are clueless about what Godβs Word says. He will do this through subtle messages in music lyrics, statements from your favorite celebrity, and words of advice from friends (even friends of yours who are believers, but are quotingΒ βversesβ that are not in the Bible) . Scripture commands us: βDonβt copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really isβ (Romans 12:2, NLT).Β Β Furthermore, Godβs Word instructs: βfix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praiseβ¦and the God of peace will be with youβ (Philippians 4:8-9, NLT). But Satan would rather have us in mental anguish by listening to the world, rather than the word of God. Guard your everyday thinking by soaking it in Scripture. Itβs the only way to keep Satan and his worldly philosophies from entering in.Β Β
4. Your speech β so you tear others apart.Β Β Β Β
God wants us to be holy mouthpieces for Him β people who heal and help with our words. But Satan would rather have you and me blowing it big time with our mouths.Β Β A few critical words here, a few complaints there, some profanity mixed in with a little gossip on the side and we have given him permission to make us people who tear others apart and sound no different (and sometimes worse) than unbelievers.Β Β Satan knows we can cause much damage with our mouths if we do not bring them under Godβs control. Whether it is gossip, criticism or unkind remarks, our mouths can be instruments of righteousness or unrighteousness. Close that door to Satan, altogether, by applyingΒ Β Godβs instructions in Ephesians 4:29: βDo not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listenβ (NIV).Β And 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us βin everything give thanks; for this is Godβs will for you in Christ Jesusβ (NASB).Β Β Be a verbally thankful person who speaks only to lift others up, not tear them down. That will diminish and destroy a critical and complaining spirit that gives Satan a stronghold in our lives.Β
5. Our BodiesΒ Β — so they no longer glorify God.Β Β Β Β Β
Why is it that when people get depressed they overeat or drink excessively or turn to substances? Why is it that young girls will cut their bodies or starve themselves when they are dealing with emotional pain? I believe itβs because Satan will turn us against our bodies if he can, as a way of βgetting back at God.β Our bodies are precious to God. Scripture commands us to βGive your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice β the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?β (Romans 12:1, NLT). Satan knows that God considers our bodies His temple and therefore God wants us to keep our bodies holy, healthy and honoring to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Scripture says keeping our bodies holy is our βspiritual act of worshipβ (Romans 12:1, NIV). So because our bodies are holy to God, Satan would love to have us harm them, mutilate them, starve them, and destroy them with substances. Donβt let him in. Not in how you dress. Not in how you see yourself. Not in how you treat yourself. Ask God for a healthy body image and a desire to protect your body so you can serve Him on this earth in it for as long as possible.
So whatβs your strategy now that you know the areas where Satan wants to enter your life? God gives us a great defense through Paulβs instructions to the saints in Ephesians 6:11-18: βPut on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devilβs schemesβ¦.β I find it interesting thatΒ every piece of βarmorβ described in that passage refers to the character of Christ. Β In other words, put on Christ-likeness. Abide in Christ, be clothed in His character and righteousness, and you will fend off the attacks of the enemy.Β
For more on how to keep Satan from dominating certain areas of your life, see my book, Women on the Edge, now on sale for just $9.49 each (plus shipping) through the end of the month or while supplies last.
I have dealt with weight issues almost all of my life. There were a few years of good weight and good health. But, for the most part, overeating has been a problem. I am an emotional eater. Thank you for this message. Satan will not have me today or any day. I will trust in the Lord.
Thank you, Melissa, for your words. No, He will not have you today nor any day. That’s something we should say every day. π
This message from you comes as a great blessing this morning. Thank you so much.
God bless you!
Thank you, Sally, for your encouragement and I will be praying about the personal details you shared with me.
So good! I was actually thinking along these same lines yesterday! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Sherry. Thanks for leaving a comment. π
Hi Cindi! Thank you for being a blessing in my life. I would apply this to my life, this 5 would be my new outfit. Loved it, this message was for me π
Thanks, Miriam. Blessings to you.
Your work touches the heart.
Cindi, as usual so, so , so good! These 5 are such great reminders, especially in the midst of all that has been happening and is happening in our world. Thank you <3
You’re welcome, Chery. How wonderful to hear from you on my blog again. Hope you’re doing well and staying your usual positive, faith-filled self during this cray time. π
Thank you! Yes doing well held in my Father’s hands! Leaning on many verses but the most frequent out of my mouth is Proverbs 46:10. I hope you and yours are doing well too π
So true. Iβm battling to gain custody of my daughter (10 months, $23K in legal fees). Sheβs 16 and Iβve found corruption in the judge, bribery by my abusive ex, on and on. Satan has attacked every way you described-βspot onβ. Reading what you wrote finds me wanting to regain the faith I have lost during this trial. Itβs taken an enormous toll on my health but I need to look at how Satan is attacking me to overcome. Thank you-itβs easier when someone writes about it so I donβt feel alone.