Maybe we would all be better off if we called an Ace an Ace.
I like to read inspirational blogs. They make me smile and feed my soul. But, one thing I find consistent among them is the fact that they don’t call Satan by name. They call him the enemy of our souls, or something similar. While this is a true description, why not call him out?
I don’t write much about Satan. Quite frankly, I don’t like to give him the press. However, I think that pretending he doesn’t exist is dangerous for us as Christians. We do have an enemy. We are not supposed to fear him. God has given us victory. But, not keeping our eye out for him doesn’t make good sense.
I heard Joyce Meyer say in one of her sermons, that we need to confidently call Satan out when we know he is trying to thwart God’s plans for us. She said we should boldly say out loud, “Get behind me, Satan!” Where have we heard that before?
Jesus said that to Peter shortly before the crucifixion. In Matthew, chapter 16, Jesus is explaining what is coming. Peter, who loved Jesus, deeply, pulled Jesus aside and said (and I paraphrase here), “Surely, there has to be another way. This can’t happen.”
What happens next always bothered me, but upon closer reading, I understand it. Jesus looks Peter in the eye and says, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23
Ouch! Poor Peter, he loved Jesus and didn’t want him to die and Jesus called him Satan. But, upon closer inspection, I don’t think Jesus was calling Peter, Satan. He wasn’t saying that Peter was suddenly possessed. No, I think he knew that Satan had gotten in Peter’s ear and was appealing to his human side. Satan knew Jesus was human as well as God. He took a shot.
Jesus didn’t fall for it and called him out. It appears from the rest of the story that he moved on. He didn’t try to appeal to Jesus through Peter again.
Satan likes to move in secret. Perhaps, one of our best defenses is to call him out. Last week, I went to bed planning to rise early and go for a walk. I have some of my best conversations with God on my morning walks. I am surrounded by nature as the earth wakes up. I pray and I listen as I work my body, soul, and mind. I had been out of my routine and had resolved to get back into it.
Well, at around 6:15, my hubby tapped my shoulder letting me know we were out of dog food, ugh! I climbed out of bed, brushed my teeth an threw on some clothes and went to Publix, thinking they opened at 6:00. I still had plenty of time.
Upon arrival, Publix was closed. They don’t open until 7:00. Undaunted, I sat in the parking lot and waited for twenty minutes. I got the food and went home. When I opened the bag to pour it into the bin, I missed, dumping dog food on the floor. I was very frustrated at this point.
Joyce Meyer popped into my mind. I said out loud through clenched teeth, while cleaning up the laundry room floor, “Get behind me Satan!”
It worked. I did take that walk and had some wonderful prayer time. Two ideas for posts were born.
When we are called to do something by God, whatever it is, we really should pay attention. That is the prime time when Satan will try to thwart us. It could come in so many seemingly innocent forms, from a friend inviting us to do something more fun to our car not starting. Satan’s plan is to thwart God’s plan; pure and simple. So, if you are on the path God has put you on and hurdles keep falling in your way, say a prayer for strength and patience. Then call Satan out.
God will win and so will you.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂