New Identity Magazine

God in focus. World in scope.

  • About
  • Grow
    • Spotlight: In Perspective
    • Growth & Maturity
    • Foundation
    • Practical Application
    • Jargon
  • Connect
    • Community
    • Discovering God
    • God Talk
    • Life Together
  • Live
    • Give Back
    • People
    • Culture & Creativity
    • Careers & Callings
  • Back Issues
  • Guidelines
    • Writer’s Guidelines
    • House Style Guide
    • Content Submissions Agreement
    • Jargon Substitutions
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Contact

MY ENEMY, THE DEVIL

By Gary VanDeWalker 3 Comments

MY ENEMY, THE DEVIL - New Identity Magazine

There are friends I would rather no one know I have. In the past, I’ve introduced you to two of these friends, World and Flesh. One surrounds me; the other is part of me. These should be my enemies. They distance me from God and dampen my love for Christ. However, I find myself drawing them closer than I should. The enemy that should repulse me most is often the one I pretend isn’t there, while walking hand in hand with him. He is the devil.

You might ask how I don’t notice the ugly guy walking alongside me in my spiritual life, but here’s the thing, he doesn’t appear as someone ugly, but as an angel of light. “For no wonder, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14, NASB). He’s the suggestion in my ear that it is more noble to be honest and sin, then do good with an impure motive. He helps me provide the degrading criticism to my friend, in the name of improving my friend’s character. I hear in his words the encouragement to be honest in my faith at the risk of being perceived as holy and aloof, by compromising and looking like everyone else.

When my vision is clear and I see the road to take, he jumps in front of me and creates a road block. Paul experienced this, “For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18, NASB). He creates obstacles to discourage me. I adopt platitudes and convince myself I’m loving my neighbor by not bothering him with my faith. I choose to set my convictions aside, interpreting the devil’s speed bumps as stop signs in the will of God. When there is resistance to my values, Satan persuades me that God is twisting my path. I accept sin, believing grace should abound.

God gave me a foundation of truth from the Bible, illustrated in history. The stories of Scripture reveal God’s character. This foundation shows his love for me in the present, for God has thought of me, sending Christ into my life today. The devil focuses me on the future, making me fear it, wanting me to gain material wealth from what lies ahead and every other pleasure which comes before me. In his fictional work, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis has a senior devil propose to his younger nephew a way to derail the Christian’s faith. While trying to hinder believers, the young tempter is to remember, “Gratitude looks to the Past and love to the Present; fear, avarice, lust, and ambition look ahead.”

I assume that devil will appear big, loud, and abrupt. But often he is the soft voice, the gentle touch, and path of least resistance.

I listen to Satan’s whispering, taking it often as my own thought. My proper response would be to remember Jesus’ response to Peter. Peter listened as Satan had him oppose Jesus’ notion of going to Jerusalem and dying. Jesus had no intention of letting the devil sway the conversation. “But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matthew 16:23, NASB).

There’s the rub. How often I forget to ask the question of what are God’s interests. I ask about my own interests, seeking to love myself. But I ignore the interests of my neighbor and espouse the great virtue of doing what is right in my own eyes to serve God and my neighbor best. Yet, the interest of my neighbor and myself is always found in God’s interest because he is the one who loves me and my neighbor the most.

Again the devil in Lewis’ story, Screwtape, speaks of Satan’s approach. “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” I assume that devil will appear big, loud, and abrupt. But often he is the soft voice, the gentle touch, and path of least resistance. Paul warns of Satan’s nature. “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3, NASB).

Apart from what Satan puts in my life, I need to also consider what he keeps out of it. Screwtape talks about how easy it is for Satan to tempt believers, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” The simplicity and purity of devoting my life to Christ should be my focus. I need to take God at his Word, recognizing the straightforward commands to love God and my neighbor as myself. To derail my spiritual walk, Satan only needs to make me forget this focus.

Satan convinces me that he has great power. I fear at times what he might do to me. I wonder, within myself, how much of the world represents his strength. I forget the great one who lives within me. I could never measure the height of God’s power or the Lord’s might; and with Satan’s power beside it, there is no comparison. Satan can no more move against God’s power than an ant can move the planet out of the orbit of the sun.

My enemy, who I befriend, has but one power over me. He lies. He changes my perception of the world. He makes me see things backwards and upside down. He convinces me of truths other than God’s.

What I believe and how I think determine how I live. Satan has no power over me. He uses the simple lie, and then relies on me to use my own strength to carry out his wishes. He gives me a faulty prescription, and I think the unfocused, blurred world is reality. When I put on the glasses of God’s truth, the devil’s power fades away. Christ lives in me.

For those choosing to live outside the Kingdom of God, Satan blinds them to truth. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The devil renders Christ invisible. He directs the minds of unbelievers to the flawed world and blames God. He promotes self-sufficiency, virtue without foundation, and a form of godliness without God. He attributes the problems in culture to Christians, the intolerant, and the weak. Again, the lie is his strength.

A final word from C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape reminds me of the need to stay fixed on Jesus. “Do not be deceived… Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do [God’s] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of [God] seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” No matter what Satan hides from my view, I must obey the truth of God. When God tells me to love him, to love my neighbor, to put his Kingdom first, I must see beyond the barriers Satan puts onto the landscape.

There are weapons that I can use in the battle against this false friend. (Ephesians 6:10-18) My faith is my shield. God’s Word is my sword. His righteousness protects my heart. My feet are surrounded by his truth and move me through the world. Trust, truth, and righteousness are my pursuits. When I trust God, I don’t trust the devil. When I know the truth, I see the world through God’s eyes. When I cling to the righteousness that Christ gives me, apart from my own works, I can’t be shaken into a false sense of guilt. My sins can’t be used against me, because Christ has forgiven them and made right living possible.

It’s a struggle. These three friends, the world, the flesh, and the devil are really my enemies, I work at leaving them behind. I need to remember when I stumble, Christ picks me up. I must hold to the hope before me and the real future Christ has promised me—a new world and a new body which will no longer be plagued by sin. But for now I take responsibility and endeavor to follow God, God’s Spirit, and pursue the Kingdom.

When I walk with Christ as my friend, I am dead to the world, the flesh, and the devil. I am transformed to God’s character in my thoughts, my actions, and these enemies have no power over me.

And of the devil?

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night’” (Revelation 12:10)
My false friend, the devil, he will lose his place. Before Jesus returns, he will cast out Satan. Satan will begin the road to his final judgment. Humanity will see him for his true character. My flesh will be exchanged for a new body, the world will be made new and perfect, and Satan will be thrown into a lake of fire.

When Christ returns, my enemies will be brought to Jesus’ feet. They will no longer be able to pull me from him. I will see God face to face and find my true friend.

MY ENEMY, THE DEVIL - New Identity Magazine

Share with friendsShare on facebook
Facebook
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on google
Google
Share on email
Email

Filed Under: Featured, Foundation, Grow Tagged With: Issue 29

Related Posts

  • MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIPMISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
  • BLESSED TO BE A BLESSINGBLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
  • FAVORFAVOR
  • IN PURSUIT OF INTIMACY: SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT CAN GROW US CLOSER TO GODIN PURSUIT OF INTIMACY: SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT CAN GROW US CLOSER TO GOD
  • SPIRIT EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION WITH GODSPIRIT EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
  • PRIMED FOR A PURPOSEPRIMED FOR A PURPOSE

Comments

  1. Dez says

    April 5, 2017 at 11:43 am

    Very well written. Very inspiring. God bless you Gary. I’m going to write something similar, using a lot of your points to help me in coming up with a post about “My Enemy” that will help those who follow me on social media. We’re all in this together and God gets the glory! You passed the idea on to me, and I’m going to keep it going.

    By the way, my Instagram is GetDizzy23. Be blessed.

    Reply
  2. PATRICK says

    September 30, 2021 at 5:49 am

    amen bro

    Reply
  3. Gatekeeper says

    January 6, 2024 at 7:19 am

    We all fight the 😈. One thing I never let go of is God. The Lord is my shepherd. I’ve learned to speak to all storms. Trusting God from whom all blessings flow.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Current Issue

Current Issue

Read Now

No Fields Found.
New Identity | Exploring Faith

newidentitymag

We hope you enjoy the new issue! Check out the lin We hope you enjoy the new issue! Check out the link in our bio! Happy Fall/Winter! 🍁
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
How should we be using our money? - We're looking How should we be using our money? - We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment!
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment!
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on the topic of praying continually and what that can look like in our fast-paced society, please leave us a comment! 😊
We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute We're looking for volunteer writers to contribute to the next issue! If you're interested in writing on this topic, please leave us a comment! ✨
Happy Spring! Enjoy the new issue! #linkinbio Happy Spring! Enjoy the new issue! #linkinbio
Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on ou Our striving to be like Jesus or do his work on our own is in vain. We can never hope to achieve the same level that Jesus was on while we are still here on Earth. We’re like little kids, struggling just to walk. But that’s why Jesus gave us an example of redeemed followers in the form of the Apostles, who were his close group of students here on Earth. He chose a group of broken, sinful men, and ultimately shaped them into the group responsible for continuing his ministry here on Earth. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Tim VanDeWalker in "Running By Example" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's th "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." –Desmond Tutu
The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not t The Bible tells us to live in the world, but not to become like it. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2a). Some have interpreted this as an instruction to reject anything that isn’t explicitly Christian. But I don’t think that’s what this verse is getting at. I think it means much more.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Lindsey Beharry in "Choosing Wisely" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
If you desire to serve, seek to form groups withou If you desire to serve, seek to form groups without age distinction. Maybe you want to form a group in your church. Avoid just inviting members from your age group. Seek out people older and younger than you to invite to meet together. Find that person who sits alone and talk to her or him. Instead of a focus on building groups that have the same characteristics to “relate” with one another, you center your discussion in the work of Christ. He will bring the group together. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Russell Almand in "Community and Age Diversity" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"If we put our faith in temporal things, they will "If we put our faith in temporal things, they will inevitably let us down. They were never meant to be enough for us. Not alone. When Barnum finally does hit bottom, he recognizes that his heart has been led astray, fooled into thinking that fame or fortune could satisfy him."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "The Greatest Showman" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the ex "Porn. We are only now beginning to realize the extent of its effects on the brain, relationships, and society at a time when sexually explicit content is just a click away. Christians have recognized pornography’s negative impact for decades, yet it is still often considered a “male” problem within the Church. This can leave women who struggle with porn addiction feeling isolated and alone. The organization SheRecovery (formerly Dirty Girls Ministries) aims to change that and has become a resource for women with porn addiction. You can read more about their ministry at the link in our bio. ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Lisa Gagnon in "Dirty Girls Ministries" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The presence of my sin reminds me of my great nee "The presence of my sin reminds me of my great need for grace, and good works are the outpouring of a grateful heart; being a good child is not a means of earning the favor of God."⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Sally Blotzer in "Forgiving Failure" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by "As Christians, we identify ourselves not only by how we handle our daily lives, much like those around us, but also by an added component: our faith. How we pray and worship and spend time with our fellow followers provides additional meaning to our lives."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Matthew Hamilton in "Does Your Form Determine Your Function?" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📷: Photo by Lum3n from Pexels⁠
Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others an Often I picture Jesus telling us to love others and not to judge. I forget that when he said, “Come follow me,” he wasn’t just inviting us to a strict set of rules but to a real and exciting life whether you turn out to be a pastor, a doctor, designer or simply “Dad.” Sometimes I forget one of his main messages was that he came to give us a better life than we could ever dream of—life to the fullest. Jesus wasn’t locking us down to a vocation or job title. It’s as if he was saying, “Real, vibrant life is available to you now. Following me, loving me and living like me is your real calling…the rest is just there to aid you in following, loving and living.”⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Wendy Van Eyck in "Living For A Purpose" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the Like Morpheus, I want to “show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” There is yet another parallel between the Christian story and The Matrix, simultaneously the most foundational and the most captivating. It’s that something which is missing, something which is not quite right with the world. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know that it’s there. At the outset of the first film, Neo is searching for it. Trinity asserts that “it’s the question that drives us.” Morpheus claims that “you can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes.” The question is: What if I’ve only ever scratched the surface of all that life has to offer? What if there is a deeper, truer current of reality, ever-present behind all of my life’s experiences, to which I might awaken at any moment?⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "Tumbling Down The Rabbit Hole" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because "I’ve always been intrigued by Augustine because we all struggle with temptations to sin. And we all struggle to live in a way that honors God. Like Augustine we all feel the tug of our past sins that say, 'Don’t you want to enjoy us?' And Augustine’s story relates to Galatians 5:16-26 where Paul tells us about how the Christian life is like a walk. In a way, walking is a metaphor for the Christian life." ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like livin "The Holy Spirit empowers us for Christ-like living, and for serving others." Where in your life or in what ways has the Spirit enabled you this week? We'd love to hear, tell us in the comments below!⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott  in "In Step With the Spirit" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe

More Articles

A TESTIMONY OF LOVE

Esther’s testimony actually begins with the work of her great-great-grandfather. He was a servant to English missionaries in India at the beginning of the movement … [Read More...]

THE SALVATION ARMY

During the holiday season, bell-ringing Salvation Army Santas and their red donation kettles are a common sight outside shopping centers and grocery stores. However, … [Read More...]

Cultivating Good Character

Judah was outraged when he heard Tamar, the widow of his deceased son, had become pregnant because of prostitution. He demanded, “Bring her out, and let her be … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2025 New Identity Magazine. All Rights Reserved · Log in