“Pleased to meet you… hope you guess my name.” ~ Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones
There is no denying that we all have evil thoughts from time to time, and throughout our lives, we have often acted on those thoughts. Where do these selfish and wicked thoughts come from that take up residence in our minds? Are they self-induced, inherited genes, culturally influenced, or could they be from Satan and his army of demons?
In the West, between 70% to 80% of people polled say they believe in a Higher Power or God. But when you ask them if they believe in the devil, Satan, Tempter, Evil One, Dark Side, Beelzebul, god, Great Dragon, Lower Power, that number drops below 40%. If Satan is real, as Scripture suggests, e.g., Matthew 4:3, Matthew 12:24, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 John 5:18, and 1 Peter 5:8, then the most significant lie the devil pulls off is that he doesn’t even exist.
In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is the agent of God, and sin is the agent of Satan. This contrast is where we learn the phrase good vs. evil, good twin vs. evil twin, angel vs. devil, angels vs. demons, etc. Scripture refers to these battles as spiritual warfare, and these battles play out in our minds. Joyce Meyers wrote a bestselling book all about this subject titled “The Battlefield of the Mind.”
As a person who believes in God and refers to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior (Higher Power if you wish), I take what Scripture has to teach us about the principalities and powers at work in our world and my life seriously. There are many references in Scripture warning us about these principalities and powers, e.g., Ephesians 6:1-24, Colossians 2:15, 1 Peter 3:22, Romans 8:38, Colossians 1:16, Ephesians 3:10, Jude 1:9, Colossians 2:14-15, etc.
If this is true, then what do we do about it? How do we find peace and freedom from the wages of sin and the relentless dark, evil, wicked, and twisted thoughts that manifest themselves in our minds?
Here are some options:
- Continue to live as though the devil doesn’t exist. This position means then we are fully responsible for our thoughts and actions. The world and all of the people living in the present are without excuse.
- Blame all of our twisted thoughts, bad luck, unfortunate outcomes, and experiences on the devil. This idea is convenient for sure. This idea would mean we take zero responsibility for our thoughts and actions.
- Put on the whole armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18, and prepare for battle, knowing that the struggle is real, but victory prevails through the cross and resurrection.
Suppose the principalities and powers at work in this world are accurate, which I would argue they are. In that case, it should bring us some relief to discover that supernatural forces influence the darkness that occurs in our minds. That said, I would also argue that we can’t pin every evil thought or act in the world on Satan himself. As fatally flawed humans, we make mistakes and tend to think and act in cruel ways. We must learn to take full responsibility for our actions and not rely on lame excuses like “the devil made me do it” to justify our behavior.
Lastly, if the god of this earth is the prince of darkness, as Jesus suggests (Revelation 12:9), then it explains why we live in a fallen world and why humans exist in a failed state. It also helps us understand why people are quick to label people’s woes on criminal thinking, mental illness, twisted perceptions, spiritual sickness, spiritual bankruptcy, abnormal mind, and stinking thinking.
The best news ever is that we can enjoy victory over the principalities and powers of this world if we are rightly related to God. Don’t you think it’s time to get right with God? Aren’t you tired of the spiritual battles waged in your mind? By surrendering your life over God and asking the Spirit to live in your soul (soul = your mind, emotions, and will), you can discover true peace and serenity at last. The struggle is real because Lucifer exists, and it’s not a pleasure to me him. The absolute pleasure is meeting God wherever you are at, understanding that He will not leave you there, and you will be in His presence not only for the rest of this life but the next.
Lord, thank You for revealing the truth about life through Your Word. I know that Satan is present, and his demonic army of fallen angels and his agent called sin will go to any lengths to keep us from knowing You and turning our wills and lives over to You. Lord, please forgive me of my ignorant and selfish ways, please issue an eviction notice to Satan, and come and take up residence in my soul forever so that I can walk with You the rest of this life and eternity. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
Photo by Tech Nick on Unsplash
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