Daily Devotions
How to Make the Devil Happy
Reading for August 20th: Jeremiah 30-31
Weekly reading for August 16-22: Galatians 1-6
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:15
We make the devil's job so easy sometimes. The devil is afraid when we are loving one another, forgiving each other, showing honor and esteem to our brothers and sisters, etc.
Here are a few things that make the devil happy:
When we stop communicating. "It's just easier if we just avoid each other," we reason to ourselves. We believe the lie that as long as we're not talking, we're not fighting, and so things are better that way. Jesus doesn't give us the luxury to do this (see Matthew 5:23-26, 47).
When we stop caring. The Bible teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). What's the opposite of that? It's not merely a spirit of anger and revenge, but a spirit of indifference.
When we stop praying. If we're not bringing these spiritual battles to the throne of God (and conflicts at work, home, and church are a part of spiritual warfare), then we've already lost. Jesus said, "apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Father, forgive us for our foolish pride and selfishness. Rebuke us and chasten us till we learn that we are not the center of the universe!
