Satan Wants Your Soul
It’s true. Satan wants your soul. That’s a sobering thought. Does it scare you? It should. It’s terrifying.
Satan knows his end will come and when it does, he wants to take as many people with him as possible.
We are all made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) and Satan hates us. He wants to destroy us, because if he can’t destroy God, he’ll destroy what is made in his image. And he packages destruction in appealing and deceiving ways.
He makes what is dark look fun and enticing (Halloween, celebrating darkness, spiritism, new age, horoscopes). He lures us with promises of love (lust, sex, toxic relationships, belonging). He promises success (money, fame, importance). He whispers that we can be somebody because he knows we all want to be seen, to be known, to be loved.
Satan wants our kids. If nothing else sobers us, that should make us sit up and take notice. He wants to lure our sons and daughters away from the cross.
When our children were little, we were hyper-aware of their surroundings and of people who might mean them harm. We likely all had a nightmare or two about our children going missing…it’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Yet, all around us lurked the darkness of Satan, his demons, the evil that would pull them away from God. We didn’t always see it and we co-existed with it in ways that lulled us into letting our guard down and potentially allowing our children to become desensitized to the danger.
This world is Satan’s kingdom and he promises it to us in exchange for our soul. He dangles pleasure, wealth, and power in front of us and when we grasp it, he shackles us to darkness, depression, and despair. Satan promises “all that” but it’s like a spider’s web, we become entangled and are at the mercy of his manipulation, his addictions, his darkness that envelopes us. He lures us into a spiritual world of darkness that is terrifying and promises eternal damnation. But he makes it look appealing and innocuous. That’s his deception.
How many times have we looked at someone who has earned fame and fortune, but it’s clear they are miserable, addicted, they have no joy, no hope, and we say, "They sold their soul”. No one is immune to his ploy. No one can resist on their own. Those who say, “I would never…” often find themselves in places they never imagined because they relied on their own strength and pursued their own pleasures. They fell into the trap.
Look around you. The darkness is becoming more and more visible because the days are growing short. Jesus’ return is near. What is good is being condemned as bad and what is bad is being celebrated as good and worthy. Our world is upside down. Murdering unborn babies is celebrated as the choice of body autonomy. Image bearers who are weeks into gestation are being labeled as clumps of cells- dehumanizing the personhood makes them easier to destroy. Satan celebrates that we buy the lie. Now we’re seeing that some countries are choosing to medically end a life because a person is disabled or terminal and it’s marketed as merciful. Israel is being decried as the enemy (Biblical prophecy is playing out). Antisemitism is rising at an alarming rate. Politics is the new path to redeeming all that is wrong. Prayers to Satan are being offered in public places because everyone’s faith should be celebrated?! And persecution of believers is at an all time high. Our world is Satan’s playground and we’re surrounded by it. We need to stop dancing around the truth of the matter.
Meanwhile, the love of believers is growing cold. Jesus said,
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:6-14
When will we wake up? When will we see that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and the rulers of this dark world? “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
How do we combat this? We need to be in the Word daily. We need to be on our knees praying for our sons and daughters- their spiritual life depends on it. We need to be praying for a hedge of protection, and a shield of faith around our lives and those of our family. And we need to be sharing the gospel because time is short. We need devotion, not just devotions. Time in the Word is vital, but that should set the tone for our life, not just be a moment in the morning that we check off of our to-do list. Our devotion to Christ needs to be evident to all.
And we pray. Yet, sometimes we fail to recognize that prayer is THE most powerful thing we can do to protect our families. We pray a lot, right? Yet, do we understand that we are stepping into a spiritual realm when we pray? We are aligning our heart with the Sovereign God, the Creator of all, the One to whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess His Lordship. We are stepping out of the temporal and into the eternal. It’s not science fiction, it is reality in a dimension that only is accessible through prayer. And it is ours to experience, ours to wield in the power of Jesus Christ.
We need to begin praying with more intention. We need to pray Scripture over our lives and the lives of our family. We need to recognize the spiritual battle that is raging and instead of burying our heads and pretending all is well, address the spiritual forces at work in the name and through the blood of Jesus. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that works in us (Eph. 1:18-21). The enemy can kill the body, but he cannot steal the soul. Our lives are hidden with Christ, in God (Col. 3:3) and no one can snatch us away from our eternity with Him.
Pray with boldness. Pray with purpose. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit against those forces that would seek to destroy. Pray without ceasing.
“Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name and ask that You would put a hedge of protection around (name) today. Guard their heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I pray that, if tempted, they would seek You for strength to resist. I ask that You would push back the forces of evil and the influence of darkness so that (name) would be spiritually safe. Lord, don’t allow their love for You to grow cold. Fill them, anew, with Your Holy Spirit so that their thoughts and desires reflect a heart and life that are committed to You. Bind Satan. Do not allow him to gain a foothold in their life. Avert their eyes from things that would lure them into sin. Surround them with other believers who would speak into their life things of the Lord. Impress Your word on their heart and mind so that they would be able to call it to mind. Strengthen their faith. Keep them faithful. Lord, this world is descending into a darkness that is palpable. The end times that Scripture describes seem to be nearer than ever and we see wars, plagues, earthquakes, and destruction. Help us not to lose heart. We know these things will happen. Yet You’ve chosen us to live at this specific time. You have work for us to do. Don’t allow fear or despair to rule in our hearts and minds, but the Word of God, living and active, that will empower us to speak truth and live boldly. Lord, we cannot do this without You. I pray that You would give us strength for as long as You give us breath and life so that all we say and do points others to Jesus. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Are you unsure of your eternal destiny? Do you know Jesus? I’m not talking about knowing about Jesus…but do you have a relationship with Him? Have you trusted Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, today is the day, friend. We are all sinners, even those who are ‘good’ can never be good enough to earn their way into the presence of a Holy God. We are tainted. We are imperfect. We cannot save ourselves. No amount of money, good deeds, happy thoughts, or benevolent giving can cover our sin.
Here’s the thing. Eternity has two options, either eternity with Jesus or eternity with Satan. One is hope-filled, full of joy and light, enjoying the Presence of the Living God and living in the full purpose of why we were created. The other option is eternal darkness, devoid of connection to anyone or anything, debilitating pain, deep sorrow, and eternal suffering and punishment. Satan rejoices when someone chooses to deny God.
Why would you not choose Jesus? He loves you so much! He died to pay for your sin- the cost that none of us could afford to pay. He gave His life so we could know true, eternal life with Him. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. If you prayed to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, please let me know! I want to pray for you and encourage you!
Today is the day, friend! What will you choose?
Are you praying for a prodigal, for one whose love has grown cold? 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, is a powerful book for anyone deeply in prayer for the heart of their loved one. It addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith that God will bring repentance and restoration. Transformation can begin in the life of the prodigal and in the reader’s own heart as well through the power of prayer!
Prayers Against Spiritual Forces and Realms of Darkness
When conflicts arise across the globe, it draws our attention. We might feel concerned, yet the conflict is often ‘there’ and not here, we’re not often touched by what’s going on. But if things escalate and our troops are deployed, our concern grows and we begin to have a vested interest in what’s happening.
Once we have someone ‘in the fight’, though, we start praying differently, don’t we? We pray in earnest for their safety and for a quick resolution to the conflict. We pray against evil and for good to prevail. We think about it every waking moment and we plead with the Lord for their safety and deliverance. We want to see things resolve quickly and peacefully. But then, as things calm and normalcy returns we likely breathe a sigh of relief and return to our lives, glad that it’s over and we move on as if the danger is done.
Yet every day, EVERY DAY, our sons and daughters are walking around in a world that is rife with conflict of a spiritual nature and they are the target of the enemy. Satan is at work and he doesn’t rest. He has demons deployed throughout every inch of this earth…it is his kingdom, after all. He’s seeking to deceive and destroy. Believers are strangers and aliens living in the midst of his territory and he wants nothing more than to turn us to his side or destroy us and remove us from life here. Just look at the news… it’s horrifying to see what people are doing to one another in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘rights’... but it’s clearly motivated by pure evil and the enemy’s desire to destroy image-bearers.
Exodus 15:9 “The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’”
Isn’t this what our enemy intends? Satan wants to overtake us and destroy us. He laughs at evil and delights in destruction. If he can make one of God’s children fall, he celebrates. If he can pull one away from the cross, he counts it a victory.
1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Parents, we need to step up our game. We need to take this seriously and not just assume that our sons and daughters will ‘fight the good fight’. Are we praying as if our sons and daughters are at war? If not, we should, because they are. They face an enemy that is far more devious and dangerous than those we can see.
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
And how does Paul describe our enemy? Pay attention, he uses words and descriptions that should sober us and take us to our knees. Each word is shown in Greek with the corresponding definition.
Rulers- arche- “The beginning or origin, the first place, principality, rule, magistracy, the term is transferred by the apostle Paul to angels and demons holding dominions entrusted to them in the order of things.” (1)
Powers- exousia- “force, capacity, competency, delegated influence:—authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. The leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates; used in the plural of a certain class of angels.” (2)
World forces- kosmokratōr- “lord of the world, prince of this age: the devil and demons, the world-rulers of this darkness.” (3)
Spiritual forces- pneumatikos- “non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal, or (demonically) a spirit, belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God, a wicked spirit.” (4)
Wickedness- ponēria- “depravity, iniquity, wickedness, malice, evil purposes and desires.” (5)
Heavenly places- epouranios- “the heavenly regions.” (6)
We, our sons and daughters, and all other believers are going up against the ruler of this world, all of the powers that work alongside him, throughout all time and across every inch of this earth, that are more superior to and more powerful than man; fallen angels, demons and potentates of regions and kingdoms that we cannot see but that we fall under as created men. Think about that. It is a darkness that is invasive and a wickedness that Jesus himself rebuked with scripture. It’s an enemy that masters legions, personifies depravity and seeks to accomplish evil purposes. How can we begin to think we should not be aware and on guard?!
And all of this takes place in the heavenly realms. Take note, friends. We live in more than just a tangible world. There is more to what we experience than the three dimensions we can recognize with our senses. We have a spiritual nature that supersedes this world and that, friends, is why we can enter the Throne room of God and plead with Him on behalf of our loved ones. We can intercede for them as His child, His beloved. We have access to the Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Great I Am who was, is and is to come. We can stand against these spiritual forces, but only when we put on the full armor of God and acknowledge the dangers and powers of the enemy. And we must.
We cannot go up against such opposition with a casual approach. Our sons and daughters must be aware and on guard. The family of God is under attack and the easiest target is the one who is unaware and unconcerned. Let’s not be easy prey.
We must daily lift up our families asking the Holy Spirit to guide, protect, and intervene on their behalf. Are we praying that our sons and daughters learn how to use the armor of God with skill and regularity? Friends, the war is unfolding all around us. We are foolish to think it won’t touch us….or that it hasn’t already.
This week, let’s pray Psalm 27 over our sons and daughters to specifically ask the Lord for protection and victory and for growth and fruit in their faith. Insert their names in the appropriate places. Pray often and with hope.
Psalm 27
The Lord is (name)’s light and (name)’s salvation—
whom shall they fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of (name)’slife—
of whom shall they be afraid?When the wicked advance against (name)
to devour (them),
it is their enemies and their foes
who will stumble and fall.Though an army besiege (name),
their heart will not fear;
though war break out against (name),
even then they will be confident.One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that (name) may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of their life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.For in the day of trouble
He will keep (name) safe in His dwelling;
He will hide (name) in the shelter of His sacred tent
and set (name) high upon a rock.Then (name)’s head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround them;
at His sacred tent (name) will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
(name) will sing and make music to the Lord.Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.My heart says of You, “Seek His face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.Do not hide Your face from me,
do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.Teach (name) Your way, Lord;
lead (name) in a straight path
because of their oppressors.Do not turn (name) over to the desire of their foes,
for false witnesses rise up against (name),
spouting malicious accusations.[May] (name) remain confident of this:
(name) will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Pray without ceasing.
G746 - archē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g746/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1849 - exousia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1849/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2888 - kosmokratōr - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2888/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/
G4655 - skotos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4655/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/
G4189 - ponēria - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4189/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/
G2032 - epouranios - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2032/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/
The Trouble with Darkness
Recently there was a blackout in the middle of the night. It was planned and we were all warned it was going to take place, but we didn’t prepare for it.
I awoke about 1:30 am and everything was black. It wasn’t just dark; it was pitch black. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. My eyes were wide open, but I was not seeing anything. It didn’t matter how much I blinked, the dark was impenetrable.
Since I was awake, I decided to get up. I thought I could navigate the room from memory… three steps forward, watch your left foot on the foot of the bed… one more step past the dog bed and turn right, five steps and left into the bathroom, but ‘wham!’ Instead, I ended up bumping clumsily into my husband's dresser… I went a step too far and I missed the doorway. The darkness had totally disoriented my sense of direction and shaken my confidence that I could navigate the room without any light.
Every day I walk around that same room. The furniture has been in the same places for years. Yet, when I couldn’t see anything, it was suddenly not as automatic. On the way back, I measured my steps but met a wall where there wasn’t one before. The darkness was so deep that my human eyes couldn’t discern anything. The darkness brought a kind of chaos to a room that was once well-ordered in the light. It seemed easier to just keep my eyes closed than to try to strain and see.
Finally, I realized that rather than try and look around me (that was fruitless), I relied on what I knew and remembered. It helped guide my steps. I didn’t get distracted by the darkness, but rather, recalled to mind what I knew was true.
As I lay in the dark, I realized how much spiritual symbolism was in those ill-fated moments during the blackout…
1. First, we were warned it was coming, but we didn’t heed the warning.
How many people hear the gospel, yet disregard its importance? They hear the warning about eternity without Christ, yet they don’t give it a second thought? If we look around, we see the signs of the times, nation rising against nation, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines- it’s all there. Jesus' return is very near. It WILL matter whether you chose to follow Him or not.
John 3:13 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
We all have friends and loved ones who know “about” Jesus, but do not walk in relationship with Him. Do our sons and daughters have dull hearing and veiled eyes? When we talk about the dangers of spiritual darkness, do our sons and daughters just ‘bob their heads’ (yeah, yeah, yeah… I’ve heard it all before)? Maybe they pass off our warnings as overreactions. Perhaps they think they have time, or maybe they are indifferent to spiritual things altogether. This darkness is powerful.
John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
We need to pray that the Light of Christ breaks through the darkness and shines a spotlight on their sin, their desperate need for a Savior and on the Truth that will give them life! Let’s pray for deep grief over sin and a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
2. Darkness disorients us to what is right and true. Spiritual darkness does the same.
Darkness takes what we know and distorts it. It twists and confuses things. It calls into question what we think we know and makes us unsure. We become a target for the Enemy. Disoriented victims are easy to hold captive.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Darkness also lulls us into a false belief that we can navigate this world on our own, without the light of Christ. We clumsily bumble and stumble but pridefully think we’re doing just fine. We’re painfully ignorant or outright stubbornly resistant to admitting our need for Him. Darkness makes us believe a lie.
Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of those who don’t yet know Christ and open the eyes of those who are walking in darkness so they see their need for Jesus and long for the Shepherd to lead them. They are living in spiritual chaos, but Christ can bring order and direction.
Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
3. Deep darkness almost forces one to keep their eyes closed- and isn’t that what the enemy wants?!
2 Corinthians 4:4 “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.”
Now is the time to pray scripture over our loved ones. Verses that plead for clear spiritual vision and discernment needed for dealing with the darkness that surrounds all of us and for the protection from the Prince of Darkness that only Christ can give.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Isaiah 42:16-17 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.”
4. Finally, we can only battle darkness and confusion with the Truth of God’s Word.
We must turn our eyes to the Truth of the Gospel, the infallibility of Scripture, the Sovereignty and Holiness of God.
2 Samuel 22:29 “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”
Psalm 143:8,10 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Darkness is present. We can’t deny that. Satan prowls like a lion, looking for anyone to devour. But our God reigns and His Word is powerful and effective. It has the ability to deter and defeat the enemy. It brings life and light and penetrate the darkness . Jesus is that Word. Let’s pray continually for our sons and daughters, for our loved ones, for those who don’t know Christ that He would defeat the darkness and lead them to walk in the Light of Life.
Take time today and throughout the week to pray these Scriptures over your sons and daughters, over your friends and loved ones. Put their names into each one, speak them out loud, call on the name and the blood of Jesus to bind the enemy and defeat the darkness.
Jude 1:24-25 “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.