If I ask you the question, “Do you know who your enemy is? What would be your first response?

I, myself have really pondered over this for several weeks now. I honestly believe until we come to understand who our enemy is, what his purpose is, and where he places himself in our lives, we cannot fully understand who the enemy really is.

Typically we think an enemy as someone who has ill intent towards us, someone who has ought against us, some even see family and friends as enemy.

When my husband and I have a disagreement and he makes me mad as heck, it usually takes me a bit to get past it. It is during the “bit” time the enemy works on my mind. He works to tear down my self image, or my confidence, he attempts to stir my insecurities. 

This is not created by anything Larry said to me, but it is my emotions being manipulated, messing with my mind. This is the workings that war in my head which is one reason I despise conflict and arguing. I have never believed I am one who has to have the last word, (although I think Larry would disagree) I don’t believe in making him feel bad because he made me feel bad. I don’t ponder over ways to get even with him, these are tactics the enemy uses to bring people down, he works to manipulate emotions, the ultimate goal is to cause a wedge. 

Scripture reads in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The most important battle we will fight is not physical or mental. It is in our spiritual warfare. In this battle, we face not only external forces but our thoughts and beliefs within ourselves may attempt to stray us from the path of righteousness, this is the open door the enemy uses.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” In other words, our fight is not against people, family or friends no matter what the circumstance may be.

So how do we rise above this situation?

We must renew our minds daily by being in the word, and as my Pastor would say, make the word authoritative in our lives. We must allow forgiveness to be the root of our hearts. We can choose many directions, many beliefs, but the enemies purpose is to bring division, to kill, steal and destroy. 

If he can get a foothold into your mind then he can take your freedom and your peace and replace forgiveness with a heart of bitterness….so I ask you today, “Do you know who Your enemy is”?