And give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:27

That seems like a no brainer, doesn’t it?

Why would we ever want to give the devil an opportunity to reign in our lives?

To take anything over?

Why would we grant the devil a foothold into our lives?

If refusing the devil an opportunity is common sense, why would the Bible need to remind us?

Because we need it.

Constantly.

We are always inviting the devil back into our lives when we sin.

Through our thoughts.

Our actions.

Our words.

Sometimes all three.

Do we consciously invite him?

Like offering him a physical invite?

No.

But we do when we fight with our loved ones.

We do when we cause others to sin.

We give the devil opportunity when we listen to his lies planted into our mind.

Fights with your spouse come to mind.

Ever think the other person acted a certain way when they didn’t intend to?

Calm the heck down and lovingly talk with them.

Or, you can react within yourself, recoiling in anger.

That allows the devil his opportunity.

How about your child’s selfish retort towards your careful cooking?

Into your head pops a lie from the pit.

If you allow that sudden untruth to cement into true reality, you’ve given the devil his opportunity.

Cheating at work?

Or on your taxes?

There are millions of ways we can provide the devil an opportunity to step into our lives.

He’s literally standing right there, simply waiting to jump back.

He can’t wait.

Let’s make him wait.

Purpose in your mind to close the door on his schemes.

It takes God’s strength in you to fight off the earned selfish retorts you could honestly repay others.

When others hurt you, that’s when Satan comes full force as we seem weak.

And we are when we are hurt.

We start believing his lies about our loved ones.

Stop.

Stop giving the devil any opportunity in your life or your relationships.

Praise the name of the Lord instead.

That will send the devil and your self-pity ways screaming down the road.

And oh ya: don’t let the door hit you on the way out 🙂

Photos by Brina Blum, Van Tay Media, Jan Tinneberg, Maick Maciel, & Wolfgang Rottmann on Unsplash