Don’t Let The Devil Wear You Down

I once watched a nature program where a pack of lions was trying to take down an elephant.

The elephant was much bigger and stronger than the lions and could have swiftly disposed of them with a simple swipe of its trunk or stomp of its massive foot.

The lions knew this, so instead of attempting to kill the elephant straight away, they began to WEAR IT DOWN.

They circled the elephant and harassed it mercilessly, nipping and clawing at its legs and trunk.

For hours, the lions relentlessly tormented the elephant, driving it to the point of absolute exhaustion.

Finally, the poor elephant gave up and crashed to the ground, and the lions were able to go in for the kill.

We might be standing on the Word of God for our health, finances, direction, relationships, or peace.

We’re making our confessions of faith, listening to faith-building teachings, and immersing ourselves in the Word about our situation.

Our enemy, the devil, cannot have the Word of God bearing fruit in our lives so he comes immediately to STEAL THE WORD (Mk 4:15).

Satan knows that we are “bigger and stronger” than him because the One who is in us is far greater than he that is in the world. (1 Jn 4:4).

He knows that he is defeated and that Jesus has given us absolute authority over him. (Lk 10:19)

So in order to steal the Word, he has to first WEAR US DOWN.

How does he do this?

Mark 4:15-17 tells us that affliction and persecution arise for the Word’s sake (to steal the Word).

The word “affliction” means, “INTERNAL pressure that causes someone to feel confined, restricted, without options, and feeling that there is no way of escape”. (Strong’s)

The word “persecution” means, “to chase, pursue/the hunt to bring someone down like an animal.” (Strong’s)

The persecution and affliction that the devil uses to wear us out, bring us down and steal the Word are THOUGHTS. (2 Cor 2:11)

The devil starts to bombard us with THOUGHTS about that situation that contradict the Word and are designed to put immense pressure on us, trying to make us feel confined, restricted, without options, and like there is no hope and no way of escape.

He will even use the words or advice of doctors or other experts, family members or friends to try to pressure us into giving into his thoughts of fear, doubt, and unbelief.

He circles us, nipping and clawing at us, pointing out every little detail about the situation, amplifying it by constantly drawing our attention to it, making it appear as though it’s getting worse. And he’ll whisper, “The Word isn’t working! If it was working it wouldn’t be getting worse!”

He chases and taunts us with thoughts such as, “You’re not healed, look at the symptoms! You’re still in lack, look at your finances! You don’t have peace and joy, look at how you’re feeling! You’re not confessing enough/fasting enough/praying enough!”

He pursues us relentlessly with arguments and reasonings that exalt themselves above our knowledge of God (our promises from the Word), harassing us to weary in well-doing, driving us to the point of exhaustion where we let go of our confession of faith and ultimately GIVE UP on the Word. (2 Cor 10:5)

And if he can get us to GIVE UP on the Word, he has successfully caused us to GIVE UP on our healing, provision, peace, and everything else that is already ours through the grace of God (2 Pet 1:3).

But there’s Good News! God tells us exactly what to do to prevent this from happening:

He tells us to meditate on the Word of God day and night. Meditating on the TRUTH not only keeps us in perfect peace, it will instantly expose every lie from the enemy that is designed to steal the Word. (Josh 1:8. Prov 4:20-22, Ps 1:3)

He urges us to not grow weary or give up, and to hold fast to our confession of faith. (Heb 10:23)

Speak the Word of God over your situation consistently and diligently. Continually remind yourself and the devil of who you are and what you have by the grace of God! (2 Pet 1:3)

He tells us to cast down EVERY imagination (argument, reasoning, logical opinion).

Forcibly pull down EVERY thought about your situation and answer it with the Word of God. Say, “NO! God says…” and force that thought into obedience to what God says. (2 Cor 10:5)