WARFARE by Elaine Davenport (Monday, September 17, 2007)

Luke 22:31-32
31"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.


I've been all over the Internet talking about Spiritual Warfare. It's funny, it hadn't even occurred to me that Satan was quietly looking for a way to attack me. It came out of nowhere. Of course, it wasn't a new trick, it was an old trick. He got someone close to me to walk in the flesh and tell me off. It took all that I had in reserve to stay in love. I'm just being honest. We have to stay in love. When we feel unloved we have to remember how much God loves us and we have to exude love. I had decided to give my friend some air for a while but I soon found myself apologizing to them. At the time, I thought there was nothing that I had done wrong; but there was. I examined myself and realized that I talk too much sometimes and I have to learn to listen. I can never walk or talk in the flesh ever because when I do, Satan enters.

I was so crushed by the verbal attack from my friend. I was hurt more so because of their unforgiveness. If it had been the other way around I thought; I would have forgiven them. I dwelled on this for hours. What a waste. I thought about relationships and friendships in our American culture and how people walk away from them over little or nothing. It could all be averted if people were just truthful, communicated better and were more apologetic, forgiving and loving.

I could never explain it unless it happened to me first which it did. Before that they were just words.

I was shaken and I ran to the Word of God. It was there that I was reinforced. The helpful thing was that the Word already deposited just needed a little stir.

I was reminded of a church service where we laughed at the devil for a long long time. We had so much fun. When he attacks; be ready to laugh. Be ready. Then laugh. Prepare yourself. It will not be easy; but do it. As soon as you laugh it will get easier. It's the eq1uivolent to telling him off; or worse. See that the attack is not from the person voicing the words to you or the situation that you're in. See that it is from the enemy and do not let him sift you.


Jesus told Peter that Satan sought to sift Peter and that he prayed about Peter's faith that it would not fail him. What will your faith do in a trial.

My faith has gotten stronger, thanks Satan. I stood you down. God backed me; He always does.