How can we know whether the enemy is shooting his fiery darts or we’re just having a bad day?
Lynette, in her late thirties and a mother of two, endures recurring bouts with depression and anxiety. Along with a diminished ability to handle even the little things of life, she grapples with intense feelings of worthlessness. Thoughts of suicide, though intolerable and unthinkable, plague her. The peace and security of the Lord’s presence seem far away. Is Lynette encountering spiritual attack?
Barry, active in a campus ministry, is point man for a major evangelistic thrust. As he and his team prepare for the event, hassles and headaches proliferate: The copy machine malfunctions, school officials seem overly picky and resistant, and tensions at home escalate. Barry and other team members are privately thinking, and some are openly asking, “Is there more going on here than meets the eye?”
Ginny’s daughter, Becky, comes home from middle school with the name of a popular new hairdresser. The following week they go to her for a perm. For the next several days, Ginny notices her state of mind spiraling downward. Plagued by doubts about her faith and feelings of personal failure, her sleep begins to suffer. She and Becky argue about insignificant things. In talking with another mother, Ginny discovers that the new hairdresser leads a study group in metaphysics and yoga. Ginny wonders, Is this spiritual warfare “rub-off?” Were she and Becky vulnerable to the influence of deceiving spirits connected to this woman and her place of employment?
Every growing Christian has an occasional bad day (or tough week) when everything that can go wrong does, sometimes causing us to wonder, “Could this be the devil?”
What is Satan’s role in life’s ups and downs? How can we tell the difference between the common problems of life and the harassments sent from our supernatural foe? When our thoughts and emotions run amok, how do we know whether to treat our circumstances as just a bad day, a biochemical burnout, or as enemy “smart bombs” designed to defeat and discourage us?
The Sources of Attack
When the subject of spiritual warfare comes up, many tend to deny and diminish its reality; others go way overboard, seeing warfare in almost any circumstance. Let’s sort some of this out.
The Bible is abundantly clear that there’s a real adversary — Satan — who opposes the purposes of God and His people. Satan perpetrates his influence to accomplish two objectives: to deceive and divert as many people as possible from finding Christ, and to rob the child of God of the enjoyment of salvation and effectiveness in service. But those who see warfare everywhere are, in my opinion, overly simplistic and reductionistic. Satan just doesn’t have that much power. Neither is he omniscient nor omnipresent. While Satan is a real foe, God sovereignly holds the powers of darkness on a long leash.
Spiritual conflict in the Christian life comes from four sources: the flesh (Mk. 7:20–23, Gal. 5:19–21), the world system (James 4:4, 1 John 2:15–17), the devil (Eph. 6:10–12, 1 Pet. 5:8), and life circumstances (John 16:33). What seems to cause us the most conflict? Life in this body.
All of us deal with some sort of “basic human misery package” — genetic predispositions toward depression, illness, high cholesterol and clogged arteries; a broken home environment; psychological and emotional weaknesses; personality deficiencies. These problems, in combination with our tendency to react with fleshly anger, bitterness, or self-centeredness, comprise the lion’s share of our daily struggles.
I’m convinced this is the portrait of life Scripture portrays. Let’s look at some insights from the Apostle James. We find him speaking first of the insidious power of the flesh, the holding and harboring of “bitter envy and selfish ambition” (James 3:14). Such promptings, he says, are “earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.” What does this mean? Simply that Satan is the originator of pride that promotes a self-oriented superiority. So, to be “in the flesh” is also to be potentially subject to the devil’s influence.
Next, James raises the question, What causes fights and quarrels? You and your selfish motivations are the real culprits. But there’s more to it: “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). So, the one who knowingly indulges the flesh and pursues ungodly pleasures alienates God and places himself in the enemy’s sphere of influence. Thus, the scriptural injunction to “resist the devil.”
Interactions between the world, the flesh, and the devil do not always fit into neat, definable categories. The lines are fuzzy, not fixed. This ambiguity reflects the very nature of spiritual warfare and calls us to ask God for sharper discernment.
Discerning Spiritual Matters
James offers a standard response to any perceived enemy assault. We must recognize enemy involvement, reject the world system (“seek first the kingdom”), repent of known sin and submit to Christ’s lordship, and resist the enemy.
As we begin to understand how to respond when we “face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2), some key questions can help us develop stronger spiritual discernment.
Do I often feel compelled to compromise in a certain sin?
Sin emanates from self-will. Thus, I am responsible primarily for controlling or compromising my morality. But repetitive compromises can open the door to the invisible adversaries of bitterness, lust, anger, or compulsive bondage. Paul warns of this possibility in Eph. 4:27, “Do not give the devil a foothold.” Satan waits to accuse and abuse. He “looks for hooks” — areas of our lives not yielded to the Holy Spirit. We are to deal with our sin quickly by confessing it and letting God wash it in the blood of Jesus’ cross.
Do I frequently have thoughts that I know are contradictory to Scripture and what I know about God?
Evil spirits are quite adept at projecting thoughts into our minds. If you regularly wrestle with such intrusive thoughts as doubt about God’s goodness, fear of condemnation, feelings of worthlessness, and despair, you may indeed be the tempter’s target. If depression, negative thinking, or anxious thoughts plague you and you can’t shake them, exercise your scriptural authority to resist the lies of the enemy. If resistance in the name and authority of Jesus doesn’t lift the cloud, you would be wise to consult a medical doctor, your pastor, or a mental health professional to look for possible psychological or biochemical causes.
Do I still feel condemned for past sins or present temptations, even though I’ve repented and confessed them?
God will always honor a heartfelt confession, forgive the sinning soul, and give peace to a healthy conscience. But some of us suffer from false guilt or an over-sensitive conscience. Let’s be mindful that the devil is an accuser and abuser (Rev. 12:10). He wants you crushed down, distanced from divine mercy, and feeling crummy. Don’t give him that satisfaction. Stand firmly on God’s promises in Mic. 7:18–19 and 1 Jn. 1:9 that He forgives with finality. Tell the devil, “I’m a blood-bought, sin-cleansed saint of God — get off my back!”
Is there a psychological or emotional area of my life that is vulnerable to “the flaming arrows of the evil one”?
Yes, there are times when the evil one and his emissaries hit you where you’re already hurt. They play dirty. It’s important that we make serious efforts to heal and seal the cracks in the foundation of our emotional lives — our security issues, self-esteem, anxieties. We’re all a bit broken, some more than others. We need to know both who we are and whose we are in the grace of Jesus Christ. By taking a firm stand against the devil’s schemes and by raising the shield of faith against devilish darts, we can be covered and protected while we grow into wholeness.
Have members of my family practiced occultism or witchcraft, or been openly hostile to God’s truth?
The Old Testament tells us God “punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (Exod. 34:7). How are we to understand this in light of the grace of the New Covenant? Must I pay for my grandfather’s rebellion? No, we’re not guilty for the sins of our fathers, but a relative who has practiced occultism or led a rebellious life may have opened a door to demonic influence.
Many spiritual warfare counselors know that in some cases oppression traces to the unrepentant, uncleansed sin of deceased family members. Satan tries to extend accusation down the line. If this is your scenario, you might need to take a stand in prayer to separate yourself spiritually from your ancestors’ sin and resist the enemy’s attempt to bring oppression to your and your children’s doorstep.
Have I ruled out the possibility that a chemical imbalance or deficiency may be contributing to a feeling of oppression?
Out-of-balance biochemistry can cause panic attacks, paranoia, severe headaches, confused thoughts, and depression. Often what feels “oppressive” traces to hormonal imbalance; mineral, vitamin, or amino acid deficiencies; or allergic reactions. If symptoms persist, and authoritative prayer doesn’t bring relief, something is out of whack.
I’ve met with many over the years who suspected spiritual oppression, but instead suffered from such ailments as manic depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and reaction to allergens. Sometimes the investigative process to check these things out can be lengthy, laborious, and expensive. Ask around, seek counsel, read widely, and ask God to guide your steps.
Am I involved in a ministry endeavor that threatens the devil and attracts his resistance?
Any servant of Christ who threatens the devil’s turf is subject to some negative supernatural attention. This seems to relate most typically to pastoral and missionary families, intercessors and prayer warriors, youth workers, worship leaders, and evangelists. If the “stakes” in souls are high, we can expect to encounter “trials of many kinds” (James 1:2) and at points to feel “hard pressed on every side” (2 Cor. 4:8). Discern the source and deal with it speedily. Break and shake off the enemy’s oppressive schemes through the authority of God’s Word and your authority as a believer.
Have I been in contact with a particular person or place and struggled with fear, heaviness, extreme doubt, or depression?
People and places can be carriers of demonic influence. When we mix and mingle with people, from time to time we may feel the effects of a lingering darkness — sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant. This can hit us at a low point of faith or when our guard is down.
Why should we be surprised by these encounters? As biblical Christians, we must understand that such forces are as real as natural phenomena and human personalities.
Does an unresolved offense or misunderstanding preoccupy my thoughts?
I’ve found through years of consulting with parachurch and missionary organizations and churches that spiritual warfare is often at the heart of relationships gone awry. Frankly, most of this is reactive sin stuff. But demons drive wedges of mistrust and maliciousness between relationships. Satan’s age-old strategy is to divide and conquer. If a misunderstanding becomes obsessive and oppressive, if it saps your joy and consumes your thought life, seek reconciliation or release your hurt to the Lord. Don’t allow the enemy to wreak havoc with your emotions.
Sharpening Your Spiritual Discernment
Only the Lord and His angels know for sure whether and when saints are under spiritual attack. Our mortality limits our perception. But experience, and the Spirit’s endowments, are good teachers.
Over the years my wife, Terri, and I have become quite good at detecting shades of difference between shifting psychological moods, normal relational conflict, natural life pressures, and bona fide satanic tampering. The Word indicates that we are to grow from being babes to young men to fathers in discerning and overcoming evil (1 John 2).
So what’s the bottom line? We must commit ourselves to discern what is real and be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s signal to repent of sin, resist evil, or just plain rest.
Let me suggest three steps that can help us detect true warfare. First, understand and learn to recognize the tactics of the tempter . Paul reminds the believers at Corinth that “we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11).
Second, ask the Lord Jesus to sharpen your discernment . The writer of Hebrews comments that those who are mature have “trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). If you long to get sharper and quicker in wielding the sword of the Lord on behalf of yourself, your family, and others, you’ll need to let God quicken in you a discerning spirit. Fast a meal or two, or take a day for fasting and prayer. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see as He sees. Let Him instruct your spirit. He will be faithful to impart to you the skills of a willing warrior.
Third, build authoritative prayer into your lifestyle . Why are we so tardy in turning to God when we think we’re taking an enemy hit? The enemy counts on our tardiness and dullness. But if we get the drift, shake off our doubts, raise the shield of faith, and speak the utterances of Scripture in bold authority, the Spirit of Christ gives immediate anointing to our words and clears the satanically polluted air around us.
If in doubt, don’t hesitate to call on the name of the Lord. If it’s warfare, He’ll come to your aid. If it’s not, He’ll come anyway and answer your call with His sovereign grace.