Study the Devil…to become familiar with his evil schemes, tactics, and ways.
“So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NLT)
Last week I shared about a dream I had and how I felt like it meant that the devil was studying me. I gave a few tips that came up during one of my quiet time devotions about how to engage the enemy. After some more prayer and insight into my dream, I felt like God told me to study the devil.
After I heard “Study him,” I knew I was supposed to be aware of HOW he attacks and be able to recognize some of his ways, tactics, and strategies. I needed to study the devil to start paying attention to how he does things and how/when he lies and causes trouble. Additionally, I needed to think about how he has attacked me in the past.
Now that I knew the devil was studying me, I could be preemptive by turning the tables. Two could play this game!
More insight about my dream
First, I started thinking some more about my dream and some of the possible symbolism in it. I could start by attempting to study the devil in my dream. If the man in my dream was symbolic of the devil, what could I discern from his character in my dream? Here were some of my thoughts…
He disguises himself as less threatening
The man that appeared in my dream seemed fairly unthreatening (skinny, gangly, pale guy). Likewise, the things that the devil uses to come against us might not seem harmful at first glance.
“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT)
He trespasses and invades into areas where he shouldn’t
In the dream I had a sense that the man was asking me questions that he shouldn’t be asking or that he might be trying to do something illegal. The devil is the same way. He tries to do things that he has no right to do. He interferes and invades in areas that aren’t his territory. The devil is an intruder.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!” John 10:1 (NLT)
He tries to make us trip, stumble, and fall
I was also very distracted by all of his interruptions in my dream which caused me to start tripping and falling. This is also another tactic of the devil. He tries to distract us and trip us up. He wants us to stumble and fall.
“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me…” Matthew 16:23a (NIV)
He tries to stop us and impede progress or obedience to God
I also had the thought that in my dream I was on a mission or task to help people. This man started bothering me when I was helping people. I think the devil does the same thing. When he sees that we are helping others, he doesn’t like it. When we are being obedient to God, he will try to stop us and impede our progress.
“We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NLT)
He studies us
Like I mentioned last week, he knew a lot about me and had been doing research and finding out things about me. He looks for our areas of weakness. He studies our vulnerabilities. Then he waits, like a lion, for the perfect timing to pounce on us.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Some more of his evil schemes, tactics, and ways
In the following weeks, I continued to study the devil and think about ways that he has come against me in the past. Knowing his patterns and methods could help me to recognize them again and fight back. Some of his personal attacks against me have come in the form of insecurity, fear, anxiety, and pride.
More of his ways and tactics started coming to mind…
He’s sneaky and has characteristics of a snake
Sometimes his attacks aren’t always full frontal assaults. He goes through the back door like a thief (John 10:1). Like a snake, he is wise, cunning, blends into the environment, strikes quickly, strikes where it does the most damage, and swallows his prey whole.
“Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden?”” Genesis 3:1 (HCSB)
He’s prideful
Satan is the master of pride. It was his own pride that caused his fall (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28). He uses the same tactic against us—trying to puff us up with pride which will make us fall too.
“Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (NLT)
He makes us question our identity in Christ
Satan wants to attack our identity and make us question who we are and whose we are. He did it to Jesus. He will do it to us too.
“During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God…” Matthew 4:3a (NLT)
He makes us doubt God
The devil will fill our minds with doubt and confusion. He will try to point out all of the times that God has presumably let us down, neglected us, or abandoned us. Satan will also try to steal away and distract us from what God has told us.
“Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Mark 4:15-19 (NIV)
He likes secrets and darkness
The devil often tries to get us to hide things. He will tempt us to try to keep secrets. He knows how dangerous the darkness is and how damaging it can be to us and to our relationships.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
“And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:19-21 (NLT)
“Those who try to hide their plans from the LORD are doomed! They carry out their schemes in secret and think no one will see them or know what they are doing.” Isaiah 29:15 (GNT)
He desensitizes us
Satan uses tactics to ever so slowly sear our consciences so that we become insensitive to the things of God and to the recognition of sin. He wants our morals to become dulled.
“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
He lies
The devil is a liar. He always lies. He always says the opposite of God. Additionally, he occasionally uses “partial” truths which are often just enough to make us listen and believe (ex. Genesis 3:1).
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 (NIV)
He steals, kills, and destroys
Satan hates us and wants to cause as much damage as possible. If he can’t kill us, he will wreak havoc by stealing from us and/or destroying things in our lives. Suffering is his specialty. His motive is to make us give up or turn from God.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (ESV)
He accuses
He’s an accuser and a shamer. He gets us to self-condemn. It’s the craziest thing. First, he tempts us to do something. Then when we do it, he shames us and makes us hate ourselves for it.
“For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” Revelation 12:10 (NIV)
He’s an imitator and a counterfeit
He copies God. He’s not very original. Also, he uses what God has already made for good and warps it. Sometimes this makes people think those things are bad.
“For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.” Mark 13:22 (NLT)
He uses our emotions against us
When we have heightened feelings or emotions, the devil uses that to his advantage. He will try to get a foothold with our emotions and tempt us to follow our feelings.
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)
Honestly, I could probably go on with even more tactics, schemes and strategies. These were just some of the things that came to mind in my attempts to study the devil. I’m sure you can think of even more and different ways that you have seen. So now what?
Take Some Practical Steps to Study the Devil:
- First, take some time to study the devil on your own. When you can identify him, you can stop him. Look over the list above and add some of your own. Think of ways that he has attacked you in the past. Consider writing them down in a journal so that you can refer back to them if you feel like you are under attack.
- Then, use these lists to recognize when attacks occur. Don’t let him outsmart you—become familiar with his ways (2 Corinthians 2:11). Get to the point where you can easily identify them.
- Finally, fight back! Use a counterattack. As long as you can recognize what tactics he’s using, you can guard yourself and even strike back. For example, if he attacks your identity, remind yourself (AND him) of what God says about you. If he lies, speak God’s truth. When he tries to get you to doubt God, kick your faith into high gear. God has already given YOU strategies and tactics to counter, retaliate, and even preempt any and every scheme that the devil can use against you. When you fight him God’s way, he will go running! (Also see more ways to engage the enemy in the previous post.)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
“Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith…” 1 Peter 5:9a (NIV)
Have you even taken the time to study the devil? What are some of his strategies that are easily identifiable to you? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.
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