Satan can be active in my life and a part of the temptations that I face. But how can I identify him and how will resist him? In 1 Chronicles, David is facing a temptation.
1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
Satan has planted a thought and provoking David to act outside of God’s direction. Putting myself in David’s shoes, I doubt he knew that this idea was from Satan otherwise he would not have complied. I am sure he thought it was his idea, and he naturally thought it was a good one! It seemed harmless so why not follow after that idea and see what happens! As I thought over my life and my decisions (both good and bad), I have to admit that I really can’t know the source of my bad ideas. Did they come from Satan or was it something I conjured up with all by myself?
It is important to recognize that Satan will do the same thing to me. Somehow, he will get into my thoughts and plant ideas and actions that go against God’s good direction for my life. Because these are ideas in my head, I will naturally own them and act on them! I will not recognize that I am being provoked by Satan and I will follow after the “good” idea that was conceived in my head.
With this in mind, I found myself asking the Lord, “How do I know when my ideas are bad? How do I know when Satan is provoking me and leading me down a wrong path?” As I continued to read my Bible, the Lord answered my questions!
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
This was exciting for me! The Lord knows how to identify the bad ideas and deliver me from my bad ideas and from those planted by Satan.
Psalms 129:4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
The Lord is righteous, and He is not going to tell me to resist temptation, and then stand back and see if I can succeed. He!! knows how to deliver me out of temptation. He tells me to resist and then equips me to do that.
But I also see in the verse that I have some ownership in this process to make it work. I have a responsibility to be godly and stay close to the Lord. I can’t behave any way I want to, and I can’t live my live in objection to God and then expect Him to chase me down and deliver me from all my bad ideas.
In my conversation, I asked the Lord what living godly looks like? As I continued to read the Lord, once again answered my question.
2 Peter 1:5-8 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Temperance + Patience + Godliness + Brotherly Kindness + Charity = A godly person
This person is in tune to hear the voice of God attempting to deliver them from temptation; to deliver them from their bad ideas. This person has acquired knowledge to know the difference between a good and bad idea. If I will take my faith in God and add these elements, then I will have equipped myself to hear from my Lord and together we can identify when I am being provoked. This is how He will deliver me from temptation.
When we stray and wander away from our relationship with the Lord and start acting in ways that no longer align with His direction, then we make ourselves vulnerable to temptation and following after bad ideas.
These passages have heightened my awareness of my thoughts. Rather than just acting out every thought that comes to mind, I am compelled to turn to God and talk them over with Him. I know that Satan has the power to provoke me; I know I have the ability to come up with really bad ideas. I know that I need God to help me know the difference. Daily, I need to be adding to my faith so that I don’t fall victim to being provoked.
Have a face to face conversation with your Lord!
Related Bible Passages
1 Chronicles 21-22
Psalms 129
Proverbs 11
2 Peter
If you are interested in having a collection of these devotional conversations with your Lord, Consider purchasing the devotional book, Conversations: Face to Face with Your Lord Book 1 or Conversations: Face to Face with Your Lord Book 2. They are available from Amazon by clicking on the titles above.
Glory, Strength, & Beauty 