From the beginning of times, the enemy has looked for ways to destroy the most precious and valued creation of God, man. He has devised different tactics and schemes to ensure that man falls from the glory God has destined for him and makes him lose His inheritance in Christ.
The Bible makes it clear that the enemy is cunning and subtle in his way (Genesis 3:1). That means that he has mastered covering his evil intentions, disguising himself as an angel of light, and then striking when we have let our guards down.
Every believer must know that the enemy is working tirelessly to destroy their souls. Acts 13:10 calls him the enemy of all righteousness. He is roaming about like a lion, seeking whom to devour. Therefore, we must be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).
Only God knows the thoughts and the intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Nothing is hidden from God. In fact, He is the revealer of all secrets (Hebrews 4:13, Daniel 2:22).
However, the enemy and his cohorts cannot access your mind. They do not know your plans or decipher your moves unless you reveal them through your speech. That is why you must be careful about the personal information you divulge
That was what Samson failed to realize when he was dealing with Delilah. Samson had an advantage over the enemy as long as his secrets were not revealed. He was unconquerable and indomitable. However, he was defeated after he revealed personal information and the secret behind his power. Be careful who you talk to and what you reveal.
One thing the enemy uses to attack you, strip you of your glory, and hold you captive is getting hold of your hair. This is an age-long tactic of the enemy.
The head is a significant part of the human body. When a king or spiritual leader is chosen, anointing oil is poured on their head. The head signifies authority and rulership (Leviticus 8:1, 1 Samuel 16:13, Psalm 23:5). Therefore, the enemy seeks the hair on the head to perpetrate evil.
This was what happened in Samson's case. Samson was born a Nazirite. He was to be the deliverer of the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines. That was his destiny. To fulfill this mission, no razor would touch his hair as that was the source of his extraordinary strength. However, Samson revealed this secret to an enemy. His hair was cut off, and he became powerless.
You must be mindful of where you go to cut your hair. If you must visit a salon, ensure you collect your hair after the hairdresser is done working on you. No loose end.
Another tactic the enemy uses to steal our glory and virtue is through our clothing. They pretend to want to wear your dress to an important function, whereas they aim to manipulate your destiny.
Remember when Elijah was to be taken by the chariot of fire into heaven, Elisha took his mantle that fell. This mantle gave Elisha a double portion of Elijah's power, and Elisha began to perform miracles (2 Kings 2:1-17).
The enemy understands this principle. That is why they always want to get your cloth. You must be careful where you spread your clothing after washing them. Those that can't get you to give them your cloth might want to steal them where you spread them.
Be vigilant always because the enemy is working relentlessly to steal your glory. Do not give him a chance.
Food is a powerful channel through which the enemy can steal your glory and make you lose your authority and power. We see this played out in the story of Jacob and Esau, where Esau sold his birthright because of bread and pottage (Genesis 25:29-34). Esau lost his position as the firstborn and the blessings that come with it because he couldn't control his urge for food. The enemy understands the role of food in people's life. He knows how well most people love food. That is why he uses it as a tool to get them to lose their birthright in Christ and God's blessings. Don't eat everything you're offered, especially if you do not know where such food is coming from. Most foods have been dedicated to idols and other gods. An important thing to note is that the enemy uses people closest to you to carry out this operation, just like in Jacob and Esau's case
The Bible warns us against evil associations. These are relationships that do you more evil than good. However, you will never notice this if you are not sensitive in the spirit. The enemy sends his demons, wolves in sheep's clothing, into your life. These people are monitoring spirits who work against you and send information about your life to their coven to hinder your progress in life. Unless you dissociate yourself from this set of friends, your life will remain stagnant, and you will not achieve the great plans God has for you. This was the case of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13. Lot was Abraham's nephew. He was with Abraham when God called him to leave his father's house to a place he would show him. However, it was after Lot separated from Abraham that God gave Abraham Canaan as an inheritance and told him his descendants would be like the dust of the earth. Guard your space jealously. Do not be like a house without a door that anyone can access. Let people earn your friendship. Have standards people must check before they are worthy of being part of your circle. One of these standards must be godliness. Only associate with godly people who believe in God and do His will
Interestingly, the enemy understands time and seasons and knows how to position himself to fit into emerging cultures and ways of life. His strategies are constantly evolving to fit into new trends, meaning he continually seeks new ways and adopts new tactics to attack God's children
As believers, we must be sensitive in the spirit and know the devices of the devil. The Apostle Paul affirms this truth in 2 Corinthians 2:11, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."
But how do we triumph over the enemy if we cannot spot his moves? This article will discuss some subtle yet effective strategies the enemy uses to attack God's children and sometimes overcome them