10 Biblical Strategies to Resist the Attacks of the Enemy

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

Just because the enemy himself isn’t visible it doesn’t mean he’s fictional. His manifestation is all around us as we war our way through the day.

If we’re to resist his evil forces and walk in victory, we must daily take notice of the traps he sets before us, and deploy biblical strategies against his plan for our demise.
Here are 10 ways we can resist falling prey to the attacks of the enemy:

1. Pray Passionately

Prayer is our biggest spiritual weapon against the enemy. Prayer connects us with our Creator and sends a memo to our enemy that he’s not anywhere capable of doing anything near what our God can.

Desperate, soulful, go-big-or-go-home, life-sized, no-holds-barred—passionate prayer. The kind that isn’t measured in big words, correct posture, or minutes. Heartfelt, specific prayer that happens often and pierces heaven, causing God’s supremacy to rain down, drown out the enemy’s war cries, and fill us with His supernatural power to overcome.

Send your adversary a message and set the tone for your entire day by humbling yourself in passionate prayer.

2. Forgive Anyway

It is His command for us to forgive as He has forgiven us. Why? He knows that there is freedom in forgiveness. The kind of freedom Christ died to give us.

Our enemy will do his best to keep us enslaved to unforgiveness. But when we choose to forgive offenses, we’re breaking his chains—his hold over us. If we choose to resist the attempts of the enemy by forgiving as soon as we feel offended, bitterness and anger cannot take root.

Your enemy knows if you experience the freedom of forgiveness that you’ll want more of it. Go ahead and taste the sweet liberty today!

Scripture Reference: Galatians 5:1,Mark 11:25

3. Read Scripture

God’s Word is life. It is our guide and gold standard to be followed. The place where true wisdom is housed. And Proverbs 4:7 says that wisdom is the principal thing. It is the lamp unto our feet and light to our path in this dark world we must traverse.

How can we grab hold of true wisdom if we’re not willing to read His Word? How will we navigate successfully in a world where darkness reigns if we do not use His lamp to light our way? Your enemy would like nothing more than for you to think you’re just too busy to read The Bible so he can keep you in the dark.

Commit to reading Scripture daily, and not only get wise to your enemy, but shine a light on those stumbling blocks he’s hidden along your path.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130

4. Confess Truth

If we’re not putting into practice Biblical confession, we’re not only short a weapon in our arsenal against the enemy but missing out on receiving some of the promises of God. This type of confession isn’t about confessing our sins, although God wants us to do that. Biblical confession is speaking God’s Word aloud as truth in your life.

The Word is the Sword of the Spirit, so when we speak His Word aloud, we’re declaring to the supernatural realm and to the father of lies exactly what we choose to believe—The Truth—and cutting through his veil of lies. And the truth shall set you free.

Overcome the enemy’s attempt to deceive you by choosing a Scripture to boldly (and loudly) confess as God’s truth in your life today.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 15:1-2, Ephesians 6:17

5. Thank Him

Hectic schedules. Life coming at us at mach-speed. The ever-present requirement to problem-solve, sun up to sundown. Sound familiar?

Forgetfulness of the good things in our lives becomes the norm while we attend to the fire drills and focus on all that’s gone wrong. And isn’t that just what our enemy wants us to do?

When we purposefully and consciously take the time daily to stop and give Him thanks, we’re able to put life into perspective. Giving thanks to God opens a door for His presence and blessings in our lives—while slamming it in the enemy’s face.

Resist your enemy’s temptation to have you focus on the haves, not the have-nots. Make a quick list of blessings and give thanks to the One who gave you those blessings.

Scripture Reference:John 10:10, Psalm 92:1-2

6. Show Reverence

In our attempts to make His House more appealing, perhaps we’ve made things a bit too comfortable. Have we turned His House of Worship into the local AMC theater with our big gulps, snacks, ringing phones, feet on the back of the pews, ever-present need to feel entertained, and chatting during the best parts? Isn’t that just what the enemy wants for the House of the Living God?

The church isn’t immune to the viral strain of disrespect that has, unfortunately, become epidemic and accepted as norm. Giggling during the opening worship instead of hearts being readied to receive the Word, texting instead of tuning into the message, and movement during time of prayer and invitation–restricting the freedom of the Holy Spirit. All things the enemy uses to deter us from God’s message of Christ.

Ask God to reveal to you how the enemy has used you to steal blessings while in His House. Stand up for Christ by standing against your enemy, no longer giving him free reign to distract, detract, and deflect.

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 12:28-29, 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Titus 2:11-13, Romans 8:5-6

7. Be Selfless

For most of us, times are just down-right hard. And our enemy likes to remind us of just how hard things are, doesn’t he? He likes to keep us on our own minds, consumed with only the things that are centered around what we want and need—not pouring out God’s love onto others.

In the words of Christ, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” When we put the needs of others above our own, we’re truly exhibiting Christ-like behavior.

Give the enemy a fat lip by asking God how you can be a blessing to someone else today and then taking action.

Scripture Reference: Phil 2:2-4, Matthew 25:40, Hebrews 13:16, Acts 20:35

8. Glorify Him

Proverbs 23 talks about how what’s in our thoughts, our hearts and minds, directly influences our actions. The deceiver wants nothing more than to manipulate our thoughts and feelings so that our thought-life does anything but glorify God.

As a direct result, our ungodly thoughts breed resentment, hate, and conflict. Things the enemy can really work with! In short, what we think we ultimately become.

Take a minute to read Phil 4:8 as a guide of what your thoughts should resemble. Make a commitment to change your thought-life to one that leaves no room for the enemy to gain a foothold—one that glorifies God.

Scripture Reference: 1 Cor. 10:31, 2 Cor. 10:5, 1 Peter 4:11

9. Claim Identity

One of the biggest lies we ever bought from the deceiver is “never good enough.” And what he wants more than anything is to keep us enslaved by chains of accumulation, consumed by competitiveness, and bound by comparison—running ourselves ragged to not only keep up with them but leave the Joneses in our dust.

As children of God we are loved, strong, upheld, masterfully created, brave AND FREE—that’s what Christ died for. Living a life that’s materialistically obese and spiritually malnourished leaves us with a misconception that our possessions define who we are and the more we have the better we are.

Let the liar know that you’ve wised up and will be doing some long-overdue self-evaluating, by choosing to find your worth in the pages of His Word, not in the things of this world.

Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 4:12-13

10. Be Obedient
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Obeying His Word blesses us, strengthens our relationship with Him, and allows Him to continue transforming us into the image of Christ. So it’s no wonder why we’re met with such ­­­­opposition from evil doers.

But when we choose obedience over obsession, Christ-like over carnal, humility over haughtiness, we send the enemy a clear and distinct message that he can no longer muddy up the waters of right and wrong—we simply won’t allow it. That through our commitment of obedience this very day, our priorities now align with God’s Word and are no longer dictated by this world.

Don’t let the enemy talk you out of asking your Heavenly Father to reveal any disobedience in your life. Ask for His forgiveness and for His help to walk in agreement with Him today.

Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 1:14, Luke 6:46, John 14:15