Once you discover what the devil DOES NOT want you to DO, I urge you: take a bold step of faith and DO IT!!
The Lowest Lever Of Knowledge:
“UNCONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE”
BUT…
We DON’T KNOW
That we don’t know!
We LOOK… But We Do Not SEE!!
Do you know it’s possible for us to be focusing our intellect on a very practical and helpful biblical principle — yet at the same time be struggling with a problem that would benefit from applying that principle? True!
Here’s an example.
Over a cup of coffee, John was relating a harrowing experience. He had become lost in a maze of city freeways in the darkness of the previous winter evening. He seemed to be quite shaken as he related the incident.
A current project focused on the truth that the devil always lies.
Here is the entire Scripture passage:
…You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44b)
I was explaining this bit of Bible wisdom to John:
Because we know that the devil always lies, then we also know that the opposite of whatever he says is the truth!
As I spoke, John nodded as though seeming to understand what I was saying, but at the same time he seemed very distracted.
Lunchtime was approaching, so I invited John to my house, promising something to eat.
As we walked toward the car, I could see that John was becoming more agitated. I asked what was on his mind.
Then the rest of the story came out.
When John had gotten lost the night before, he had stopped at a gas station for directions. Later, when he arrived at his destination for the night, he realized that his zipper case containing many personal items — including his name and address and such — was missing!
“I’m just so worried about where that case is!” he said.
He began to speculate: could he have left it at the gas station?
John had bought a map at the gas station, and someone there had marked on it where he was, and highlighted the route to where he was going.
He recalled the gas station brand, so we looked it up online and called them. They remembered him, and said that he had not left a zipper case there.
John admitted he might actually have left the case on a small table near the door to his apartment.
Suddenly John swerved into full-blown “what-if” mode.
What if a criminal had it?
His check book was in the case. What if someone wrote checks and drained his account?
The “thief” had his address! What if they broke into his apartment and robbed him? Or beat him up? Or worse??
John was tying himself into knots of fear, right before our eyes!
Joanne and I drove John to his home later in the day, and when we opened the door to his apartment — there was his zipper case — on the small table, near the door.
End of the drama.
It wasn’t until the following day that I “connected the dots”:
Even as John was nodding in agreement with me about how Satan and his demons deceive us…
—how they get us to magnify our problems…
—how they get us to worry needlessly…
THE DEMONS WERE DOING THOSE VERY THINGS TO HIM!
All of those “What-If…?” thoughts were being injected into John’s mind by the devil, exactly as I had described it to him earlier.
And neither of us had recognized it!
I have to be honest and admit: that thought was very humbling.
But it also made me all the more determined to begin watching for; recognizing; and acting on situations where I can apply biblical wisdom.
Like most challenges we take on, doing this gets easier with practice.
However, unlike most other challenges, the practice of responding to adversity with kindness strengthens your relationship with God.
Supporting Scriptures:
From Romans 12:
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21)
James wrote this:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
Right there, James goes to the heart of what it means to live as an authentic Christian. You may be able to recite hundreds of Bible verses, but it’s useless “head knowledge” if you don’t apply the wisdom of God’s Word into your life.
David expressed it beautifully:
Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
As someone has said:
Wisdom is the ability to take Bible knowledge and plug it into the affairs of everyday life.
So, What Can We Do?
Here are several things to be aware of:
What The Devil DOES NOT Want You To DO:
- What the devil DOES NOT want you to do is: to read the Bible! However…
- If you do read the Bible, then what the devil DOES NOT want you to do is: understand what it says. He wants you to be “dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11) He’ll send the “spirit of stupor” (Romans 11:8) to keep you properly anesthetized. But…
- If you do read and understand the Bible, what the devil DOES NOT want you to do is: memorize any part of it. He wants you to forget what you read as quickly as possible. He’ll help you with that, as illustrated in “The Parable of the Sower”. (Mark 4:14~15)
- If you do read, understand, and remember what you read in the Bible, what the devil DOES NOT want you to do is: recognize situations into which to apply biblical wisdom, and then actually do it. He doesn’t want you living according to God’s Word. (James 1:22)
- If he hasn’t stopped you so far, what the devil DOES NOT want you to do is: share what you know with others, or help to make disciples. (Matthew 28:19)
I have emphasized one of the items in the list above, because it is the main focus of this article. But indeed, all the schemes of the devil listed are part of a strategy to keep you from advancing the progress of the Bible in any way.
Are you getting a sense of why the Christian life is truly a spiritual battle?
You know already that what the devil does not want you to do is to read the Bible. You also know (or should know by now) that God commands you to read His Word. You certainly don’t want to serve the kingdom of hell, so you’ll naturally want to be spending even more time in the Bible.
Similarly, if you don’t understand what you’re reading, you know you’re right where the devil wants you. But because you long to serve God, you’ll want to study what you have been reading. That’s what Bible commentaries are for. They explain everything in the Bible. (I put “Bible commentaries” into Google just now, and got over two million results.)
Is there some area in your life — a relationship perhaps — where quarrels happen, and then afterward you regret what you said or how you responded?
If so, make a decision right now that, when the situation arises again, you’ll react by taking the higher road. Have some Bible verses in mind that you can “call to mind” when you need them.
Here is the entire Scripture passage:
21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:21~24)
Notice how the prophet Jeremiah wrote that he was able to “call to mind” the words he knew God wanted us to know!
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the matter, before a dispute breaks out!” (Proverbs 17:14)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11)
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But when you do what is right and suffer for it, if you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” (1 Peter 2:20)
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
I want to call your attention to the phrase “testing of your faith” in verse 3. It expresses a thought I’ve had for quite a while:
Everything Is A Test. EVERYTHING!
Actually, adversity is part of the process of transforming us so we become more and more like Jesus. This is called “sanctification”
Before moving on, I want to caution you:
Do not quote Scripture out loud when someone is “in your face” with a heated argument. Doing that is like pouring gasoline on a fire.
A Word Of Encouragement:
Also: if you fail in this at first, don’t let the devil try to put you down, or call you a loser, or tell you that Scripture memory is of no value.
When the devil tries to remind you of your past, just remind him of his future!
Here is something the devil DOES want you to do.
If you’re thinking of taking the Scripture memory process seriously, the devil would very pleased if you would begin… tomorrow. That increases his chances of inflicting you with “forgetfulness”, and thus insuring that this particular “tomorrow” will never come!
So, let me ask you again: now that you know what the devil DOES NOT want you to DO, will you take a bold step of faith and actually do it?
- Jan
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Thanks for this message, Jan. I need to read it again and again. I have fears that God is dealing with me about and this was enlighten-
Ing and helpful. Thanks again.
Thankyou So much. I’m currently working on not reacting in anger to my children and have been looking a related verses such as you quoted. But I’m left frustrated as in the moment I totally forget to think on the verses and once I react if I do remember, I have already opened the flood gates, then pride comes in etc. So thanks for the tip that a habit takes time and I must persevere. I will let…
Beth, I know what you mean regarding forgetting to respond as God would have you do when life hits you like a “pie-in-the-face”.
I urge you to read my article, “Choose: Play The Fool? Or Become Wise!“. I talked about that issue as being a choice that we have to keep on making day after day.
Yes I am in a battle for my life the Devil is after me ecause I lived in a house I should not have lived in and escaped with the truth and my life it had noxious vermin and then it was a man I did start saying scripture out loud and managed to get out but it followed me to my new place
I cant sleep if the bible is not next to me but I dont read the bible everyday. Im Going to start reading the bible everyday at least 2 or 3 pages a day. Good article Jan.
GREAT decision, Jennifer. I urge you do follow through on it. If you miss a day, don’t let the devil call you a loser and that you might as well give up. Just keep going.
Another amazing article. Ive read your blog every Tuesday faithfully since I started my walk with God. I’ve learned so much about spiritual ware far from you and every bit of information is needed to be victorious in our daily fight. I truly thank you for sharing your talent and wisdom. Your blog has become a game changer when I’m experiencing life’s everyday issues. Before I stumbled upon it…
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