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“Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew 4:10

Temptations come in all shapes and sizes. In fact, they come in just the right size and shape for each of us. The enemy knows us—really knows us. He and his minions have listened to and watched us over the course of our lives. He’s made careful study of our verbal reactions, even those slight facial movements made in emotional response. To him, we are each a well-read book.

In today’s vernacular, Satan knows what triggers us.

Until we leave this world through death or rapture, we are in a war. And going to battle against this ancient enemy of our souls is not an easy task. So, why don’t we take fighting lessons from the Master—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

When He was in the desert before launching His ministry, Jesus was tempted by Satan three times (Matt 4:1-11). Each approach targeted specific aspects Jesus’ fully-man and fully-God nature. But Jesus knew how to hit him back with pinpoint precision. With each effort to thwart God’s great plan for our salvation, Jesus fought back with Scripture (from Leviticus, no less!).

Sisters, we need the hard-hitting Truth of God’s Word as ammunition—and for this, we need to know the Bible. The more familiar we are with Scripture, the more specific we can be against the enemy’s lies.

And beware! Familiarizing ourselves with a few favorite verses here and there will not do. See, Satan knows his Bible too. And since he slithered into the Garden with Adam and Eve, he’s been methodically twisting God’s Word to confuse, trap, and deceive us Christians.

We must delve deeply into our Bible in preparation. Read it, study it, meditate on it, and memorize verses. Like training for a sport or preparing for a final exam, taking in God’s Word is a discipline—it’s hard work! But it’s required of us in this life as we pursue godliness. Plus, in our earthly quest to become more and more like Jesus, we can use Him as our ultimate battlefield example.

So, next time Satan whispers some lie or twisted half-truth in your ear, let him hear you say, “It is written…”

“Lord, may I know the power of Your Word in my life and prioritize learning—and loving—it.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life