The One Thing Satan Really Wants to Take from You
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- Updated Oct 29, 2024
We all know and recognize that we have an enemy, yet there are things about him we sometimes get wrong. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people mention how Satan is attacking them and he is after their stuff. They talk as if Satan is primarily interested in robbing them of their earthly possessions. I've heard sermons that center around this, listened to music that echoes the same sentiment, and witnessed many falling into the belief that Satan is relentlessly after their things.
But let me offer you a gentle awakening. Satan does not have an insatiable desire for your belongings. He is not fixated on your house, your car, your bank account, or your job. In fact, these material possessions hardly register to him, unless he can exploit them to undermine your faith and hinder your relationship with God.
The One Thing Satan Is After
However, there is one thing in your life that Satan relentlessly pursues. He knows that without it, the reality of you leading a victorious Christian life becomes utterly unattainable. What is he after?
Your faith.
From the very beginning, Satan has attempted to instill doubt within the hearts of men. He tries to provoke you to question the very words of God, his character, and even his existence. The reason is that he understands the important role faith plays in your life. Satan is fully aware of verses like these, which highlight the significance of your faith.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is essential in your Christian journey. It is the foundation upon which you build your relationship with God. Without faith, your ability to please God diminishes, and your desire to seek him can taper off. Satan, the enemy of your soul, understands this truth all too well. He knows that when your faith disappears, your spiritual vitality suffers, and your connection to God weakens. It is in those moments of wavering faith that you may feel most distant from God. You may notice a lack of motivation to pray. You may neglect the reading of his Word, and you may isolate yourself from fellow believers.
Think back to times in your own life when you experienced a lack of faith (I have had plenty). Perhaps it was during a season of doubt, disappointment, or personal struggle. In those moments, you may recall that seeking God was not a priority in your life and this was all connected to your faith. Because of this connection, the enemy knows if he can weaken your faith, it will cascade through every part of your walk with God. That is why he is so persistent in attacking your faith.
Your Faith Is Like Your Heart
Just as your heart pumps life-giving blood throughout the body, faith fuels your relationship with God. It enables you to experience his presence, guidance, and power. Faith is necessary when you begin your walk with God, and it is crucial for you to grow in your walk with God. You are saved by faith, justified by faith, and empowered to live according to his will by faith. If you damage or neglect your faith, your walk with God withers, just as your body would die without a functioning heart.
How Does Satan Attack Your Faith?
One of the principal ways Satan attacks your faith is by using life’s realities against you. Sometimes he will even try to use God’s own word against you. Remember the question he asked Eve, “Did God really say?”
In John 16:33, Jesus said in this world, you will have trouble. I have written on this verse before, calling it the most overlooked promise in Scripture. However, even though this is a reality of life, when trouble comes, we often end up disappointed or sometimes even feeling deserted by God. In these moments, Satan will use this against you by stirring your emotions, which affect your faith. He might say things like -
If God really loved you, this would have never happened.
You fasted and prayed and God didn’t answer your prayer. That’s because he really doesn’t care.
I thought God said call upon me and I will answer. How’s that going for you?
These types of whispers and darts the enemy throws at you are all designed to attack and weaken your faith. When you are discouraged, disillusioned, or disappointed, the result is your faith can suffer.
When seeds of doubt or discouragement don’t work, Satan may turn to worldly distractions. He may tempt you to look at other things and take your eyes off Jesus. He aims to strip away your confidence in God's promises and provision. This can render you ineffective in your pursuit of God and his plans for your life. Regardless of the method, it all goes back to the one thing he wants to take from you, which is your faith.
How to Guard against These Attacks
To counter these attacks, you must guard and nurture your faith. One reason is because you overcome the enemies’ attacks on your faith by using the same thing he is after, your faith. The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 6 that we extinguish the darts of the enemy with the shield of faith. When the enemy comes to attack your faith, you use that same faith to fight back and defeat his plan.
However, to do this effectively, you must cultivate a vibrant faith. This requires intentional effort and a steadfast commitment to seeking God and His truth. You must immerse yourself in his Word and commune with him in prayer. It also helps to surround yourself with fellow believers who can encourage you and aid you in building your faith.
One thing to note is faith is not an all-or-nothing proposition. It is a journey — a process of growth and development. You may experience seasons of struggle, but that does not mean your faith is irreparably damaged. God is gracious and compassionate, ready to restore and revive your faith as you surrender yourself to Him.
When you face moments of doubt or spiritual dryness – and they will come – then you must not succumb to the enemy's ploys. Instead, you can choose to anchor yourself in the truth of God's Word and rely on his faithfulness. As you walk closer to him, you fortify your faith and prevent the enemy from robbing your spiritual vitality. This does not mean life won’t hurt, but through it all your faith will stay strong.
Final Thought
Faith is an indispensable component of your walk with God. Just as your physical heart sustains life in your body, faith sustains and nourishes your spiritual life. Satan recognizes the power of faith and seeks to strip it away from you, hindering your connection with God. But you have the choice to protect and cultivate your faith. Let us commit to nurturing our faith through prayer, the study of God's Word, and fellowship with other believers. By doing so, you can guard against the enemy's schemes. This will also position you to experience the fullness of a vibrant, faith-filled relationship with your loving Heavenly Father. I pray today you would go and walk by faith.
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Derek Mason is the founder and president of Identity In Christ, Inc. and Identity In Christ Media. His ministry has also helped individuals break free from enslavement to pornography, PTSD, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and addictions. One of the very few pastors delving deeply into the study and teaching of spiritual warfare today, Derek addresses the very real and dark spiritual forces at work in the world today and employs a Biblically grounded approach that has consistently helped hundreds.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Sophia Floerchinger
