Don't Give the Devil a Foothold
Scriptures: Ephesians 4:26b-27 - "Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil."
Ephesians 4:30-32 - "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Ephesians 6:10-12 - "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
When we are angry, feel resentment toward someone, worry about everything, are envious or jealous, are prideful or deceitful - or have any negative emotions or any sin that we are not confessing, that's what the devil is looking for. If we are not keeping our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, it is so easy to give the devil an opportunity to have a firm position that provides a base/grip for further advancement in our lives. When we give the devil a foothold into our lives, he takes a stronghold. If you give Satan control of a small part of your life, he will soon try to take over more and more of your life. Ephesians 4:26b-27 gives the best way to deal with our negative emotions. We have to make a choice to confess our sins right away.
I saw a YouTube video of two gazelles who were so busy locking horns/fighting with each other. Really far in the distance was a lion who was steadily/quickly approaching the gazelles. They didn't notice the lion, because they were aggressively fighting each other. Unfortunately, the lion devoured one of the gazelles, and the other one I am sure was terrified. I posted the YouTube video on my Facebook page. That's the way it is with some Christians sometimes -- so involved in fighting their sisters and brothers in Christ that they don't notice their real enemy (the devil) approaching them to devour or cripple them. Remember Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places." I Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."
My desire/choice is to quickly/immediately deal with my negative emotions so that they will not become strongholds in my life - by confessing my sins to the Lord and turning away from them.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: Help me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make right choices; but when I sin and/or have negative emotions, help me to confess it right away -- and not give place to the devil so that he will not have a foothold/stronghold (further advancement in my life). All this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Marsha Williams
Ephesians 4:30-32 - "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Ephesians 6:10-12 - "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
When we are angry, feel resentment toward someone, worry about everything, are envious or jealous, are prideful or deceitful - or have any negative emotions or any sin that we are not confessing, that's what the devil is looking for. If we are not keeping our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, it is so easy to give the devil an opportunity to have a firm position that provides a base/grip for further advancement in our lives. When we give the devil a foothold into our lives, he takes a stronghold. If you give Satan control of a small part of your life, he will soon try to take over more and more of your life. Ephesians 4:26b-27 gives the best way to deal with our negative emotions. We have to make a choice to confess our sins right away.
I saw a YouTube video of two gazelles who were so busy locking horns/fighting with each other. Really far in the distance was a lion who was steadily/quickly approaching the gazelles. They didn't notice the lion, because they were aggressively fighting each other. Unfortunately, the lion devoured one of the gazelles, and the other one I am sure was terrified. I posted the YouTube video on my Facebook page. That's the way it is with some Christians sometimes -- so involved in fighting their sisters and brothers in Christ that they don't notice their real enemy (the devil) approaching them to devour or cripple them. Remember Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places." I Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."
My desire/choice is to quickly/immediately deal with my negative emotions so that they will not become strongholds in my life - by confessing my sins to the Lord and turning away from them.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: Help me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make right choices; but when I sin and/or have negative emotions, help me to confess it right away -- and not give place to the devil so that he will not have a foothold/stronghold (further advancement in my life). All this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Marsha Williams
2 Comments
Thanks so very much for this Devotional "Don't Give The Devil A Foothold". This is especially for me when having emotions and/or thoughts that arrive because of acts of others. LORD, please help me to immediately confess it to You! Help me NOT to keep things inside that are not beneficial for me. Help me also to communicate more to You and to others. So that the enemy, or my flesh, won't have an opportunity to make things much worse. In Jesus' Name, I do pray. Amen.
Because we are in spiritual warfare, I need the LORD to help me to always keep my guard up at all times.