Most of us would never speak to another person the way we speak to ourselves. The voice in our head feeds us false information, replays failures, and whispers that it’s hopeless. It’s loudest when we let our guard down, when confidence takes over, or when the path ahead feels hard. We usually assume that the inner voice is just “us,” but Scripture suggests that something far more is going on.
1. Why you make decisions you regret
Most people consider themselves smart, reasonable, and well-intentioned. But we say and do things we regret all the time. Afterwards, we tell ourselves, “I should have known better.” While we probably need to come to terms with the fact that we aren’t always as smart, reasonable, and well-intentioned as we assume, the Bible describes other forces at work.
The same serpent that caused Adam and Eve to doubt God’s Word, deny sin’s consequences, and make wrong seem right (Genesis 3:1-5) is still at work in our world to lead us in paths of regret.
Jesus taught that the devil “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Too often, we underestimate the ways that his lies resonate in our thoughts. We absorb values without reflecting on them. We chase goals without questioning them. We give ourselves permission and assume there will be no consequences. At each step, Satan is planting lies that lead us astray.
And the devil saves his best work for the church. Christians assume that the church is a refuge from the deception of the world—and it should be—but the Bible teaches us to be on guard. We’re told that “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Even still, too many people choose a church based on the style of worship music and the quality of the children’s facilities, and they open themselves up to error and regret. We need to ground ourselves in the Word of God. As it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
2. Why you fixate on thoughts that crush you
Christians should be some of the most joyful people on the planet. The Bible declares us forgiven, accepted, and cleansed. It promises us grace now and life for eternity. So why do we so often sit with condemning thoughts? Why do we question God’s love and beat ourselves up over our failings?
Lack of faith is part of the problem. We refuse to believe what God has said about His followers. We exclude ourselves from God’s promises. But the other problem is Satan’s influence in our lives. He is called “the accuser of our brothers,” and we’re told that he “accuses them day and night before God” (Revelation 12:10).
If we understand that Satan is feeding us condemning thoughts, it means that resisting them requires a supernatural response. We should expect this to be a struggle. We need prayer and faith to stand on God’s Word.
3. Why doing what’s right is so hard
Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I’m trying to do the right thing, why can’t God give me a break?” We often assume that God must be behind anything that isn’t physical. But the Bible describes Satan as actively opposing the work of God. Every time you set out to do what’s right, you can expect the devil to create difficulties for you.
That’s why Paul warned, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The work of God doesn’t move forward without spiritual opposition, and so we’re called to engage God’s help in prayer.
If we recognize that spiritual opposition is a part of the equation, it prepares us for the challenges when they come. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Those difficulties you’re experiencing aren’t God trying to add to your stress. The devil is trying to take you down, and you need to seek God’s resources to push forward.
As a child, I had a little badge on a pair of shoes that read, “The devil made me do it.” It taught me to dismiss the devil and treat Satan as an excuse to do what I want. That mindset didn’t help me.
The Fellowship Affirmation of Faith says the following about Satan:
We believe that Satan is a fallen angelic being; the originator of sin; the deceiver of the world and the accuser of believers; who uses his real but limited power and presence to oppose the work of God; and who, along with all fallen spiritual powers, will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity.
A right understanding of what Satan can and can’t do creates caution, not fear. It nurtures faith and dependence instead of defeat and discouragement. May God protect you against his devices.
In awe of Him,
Paul
