2 Ways Satan Attacks

Sometimes it seems as though Satan will use anyone and anything to get to you.  What has he been using against you lately?

When you step back and look at Satan's tactics, they're really not that hard to figure out.  In fact, most of the time it is something God has previously warned us about.  We hear the warning and abide by it for a couple days, then forget for a split second when Bam! Satan hits us with that very thing.  Here are two examples to clarify what I'm trying to say.

1. Friends.
   Lately I've seen this happen to some girls I know, but I have also seen this in my life a few times.  It's the little things Satan likes to pick at when it comes to older Christians, for example: personalities.  As Christians we are called to humbly love and serve others, treating them with the utmost respect that says "they are better than me." (Philippians 2:3-4, Matthew 22:39, Mark 10:45, Matthew 25:45)
   
   This alone is not of our human nature, it is a process we must learn through faith in God.  As the love we have for our God grows, the more that love spills out to other people around us.  Be mindful that God's word doesn't say "Love others who are like you", or "Only serve who you feel led to serve."  No, God's word shows us that we are to love and serve all people for his glory.  (John 4:9-10, Galatians 6:2, Galatians 5:14)
   
   Therefore, don't let Satan break up a Christ-founded friendship because your church preferences are different, your styles don't match up, or because one of you is an introvert and the other an extrovert.  God brings all things together for his good and his glory, and if he brought you together in the first place, he must definitely have a plan for this friendship.
   
    Besides that, we will always have a hard time loving certain people, but learning to love is a lifelong strengthening process.  The more we do it, the easier it will become.  This advice can also be applied to a marriage.  And for those who are single, start practicing for marriage now by loving your friends despite their human flaws and differences.  God didn't turn you away.
   
2. Music
   If you've been reading this blog for any time at all, you probably know how big this one is for me.  I do realize Satan may use this tactic more on me than he does some people, but I still have a point to make so keep reading.
   
   Every single move we make today can either glorify our maker or slap him in the face.  What you put on when you get dressed, what you say when your mom calls, and what comes out of your headphones.  The bible says to focus on things that are "praiseworthy", that is--things that are worth praising.  (Philippians 4:8)  If you are a Christian who has made God the Lord of your life, the only thing that should be praise worthy in your opinion should be the things of God. (Philippians 3:8)  Everything else is a loss compared to Him.
   
   That being said, does the music you listen to glorify God or slap him in the face?  Does it hold truth would stood against the Word of God?  Is this something you would be ashamed to listen to around weaker Christians, the lost, or your parents?  Music is so heavily immersed in our culture that we often tell ourselves what we listen to on our own personal iPod doesn't really matter, when in fact this is a lie from Satan.  Trash in, trash out.
   
   Listening to filthy rap songs will give you filthy thoughts, likewise listening to "good" music that isn't bad, but doesn't necessarily glorify God, will turn your thought life in to just that, thoughts that aren't necessarily bad, but thoughts that don't exactly glorify God either.  Christian, be careful what you listen to.  Satan uses the smallest things to slowly drag us away from what we were created to do, which is glorify our maker.  

1 Peter 5:8-9
"Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.

Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers throughout the world
are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

I ask again, what has Satan been using in your life?  Look at the small things that have led you astray, then cut them off.  Ask God to restore you to him and replace that hole with something heavenly.