How Satan Tempts Christians - By Donna L Young
Are Christians tempted by Satan. According to scripture they are and should not fear. John tells Christians in the book of Revelation, "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
HOW DOES SATAN TEMPT CHRISTIANS?
Satan uses anything he can to distract Christians from doing God's will. He will use our family, friends and even our own feelings of anger, doubt and depression against us. Recently, while writing a book as a testimony of my love for Jesus Christ, Satan used the words and actions of my five-year-old son to cause me to grow weary.
Out of the blue, one week, my five-year-old son's behavior changed dramatically. I watched as a normally obedient and sweet mannered child, said hateful comments, like "I want a new Mommy," threw objects and screamed in response to simple requests. "What happened to my loving son?" I thought. In a short period of time, I had grown tired of trying to discipline him with no avail. Weary, and low on energy, I tried another tactic. On this day, just after another tantrum, I began to sing, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes... be strong in the Lord." My son sang the first part of the song with me, as he loves and knows the song well. During our singing, I took a washable marker from the kitchen table to draw muscles on his arms and a shield on his chest with the word "GOD" across the shield. In my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice, I mimicked, "Oh you have big muscles for God." He laughed his normal laugh. But then my son looked down at his chest, took the darkest colored marker from the table, and drew a big "X" across the word God. I sent him to bed that night, feeling very discouraged. After he fell asleep, I went into his room to pick up his clothes. The pictures of our family on his dresser were lying face down. I left his room feeling emotionally and physically exhausted. What was going on? I was being tempted by Satan. He was using my youngest son to instill feelings of discouragement and exhaustion as an attempt to distract me from doing God's will and in writing about my love for Christ.
WHAT DID I DO?
I remained faithful and turned to another believer for hope and help. I also prayed for help from my Savior and handed the situation over to God.
WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?
The next day, my son woke up and he was silent. Although he was not acting his usual jovial self, he was no longer acting disrespectful either. As he dressed, I erased all of the names on my prayer board and put my son's name across the board in large letters. I told him what I did. He lit up! He hugged me very tightly around the neck as he questioned, "What about the others?" I replied, "You need my prayers right now."
My son put his jacket on for school. He then looked at the prayer board. He erased his name and wrote it again in even larger letters. Then he threw the hood of the jacket off his head, and said, "I am so mad right now." I thought, here we go again! I calmly asked, "What's wrong?" He said, "I am so mad at the devil for using me to say mean things to my mommy." My five-year-old son: so insightful. My eyes welled with tears. I put my hands down, palm side up. He quickly slapped me "five." In that moment, we were back to normal.
Today I can attest to the truth of scripture which says, "For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." Psalm 22:24 Satan may tempt Christians, But God will deliver Christians from all evil. All Christians have to do is ask for help!
Donna L. Young has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University and is the author of Apologies from a Repentant Christian. To read more about this author go to: http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_L_Young Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6199987