Against The Devil
(The Precautions, paragraphs 10-13)

In our battle against the devil, we must keep in mind that the main goal of the devil is to block us from doing the will of God. He places obstacles and stumbling blocks of countless kinds on the road ahead. We must be very cautious against the clever wiles of the devil, and strive never to engage in conversation with the clever, deceptive dialogue of the lies and rationalizations he uses to justify his courses of action. We must strive to seek shelter in the virtue of humility, for it has been said that "it is only the devil that praises you."

Just as Jesus used scripture in facing the devil in the desert, we too should rely on the power of the Word against the devil. We must remember who he is beneath the clever disguise: "The devil… was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8.44)


Resist The Devil

Humble servants don't analyze
The Master's motives or His ways;
They know their place and realize
Their service lies beneath God's gaze.

Be faithful to duties assigned;
Keep focus on the task at hand.
With obligations e'er in mind --
A servant at the Lord's command.

The dark one often masquerades
Beneath the guise of good intent;
He justifies with guile and lays
His snare as if 'twas heaven-sent.

Resist him and he will take flight;
The humble servant's unworthy
To receive an angel of light -
One's defence is humility.

The peace of Christ he cannot feign;
In humble hearts, the Truth will reign.

May the Lord guide us to the fullness of the truth by way of humility that we may be avoid the subtle snares of the evil one.

"So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4.7)