Do You Often Say "The Devil Is Busy"? Stop. Now.
Many of us know people who, meaning well, and trying to explain so much of the confusion they experience, often say "the devil is busy."
Maybe you are one of the people who say "the devil is busy>"
While this statement is factually correct, it is not the truth for those who are saved, who live in the kingdom of God, who have been redeemed from death, who live looking forward to spending time and eternity with God.
So, even though on some level the statement "the devil is busy" is a fact, saying this often (or at all) when encountering something that's painful, confusing, or fear-making is a very bad idea.
Why is it a bad idea?
Because energy follows focus.
From Ephesians, Chapter 1, verses 3 through 10:
3"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5heb predestined us for adoption to sonshipc through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9hed made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
Where is your energy when something goes wrong, when someone you trusted betrays you, when the unfairness of human society becomes very clear to you, when you have tried your best and things don't work out?
Here's where your focus should be: "...our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing..." (verse 3 of Ephesians, chapter 1).
Yes, the devil is busy. But the busy-ness of the devil cannot cancel what God does every day on your behalf. The busy-ness of the devil cannot cancel or remove the blessings God has arranged for you, despite your mistakes and failures--or the mistakes and failures of others.
The devil is not the opposite of God. The devil's power is not equal to God. In time, and on God's schedule, that fact will be evident to all creation. If you are a Christian, it should be evident to you now.
Blessings from the heavenly realms cannot be canceled, removed, or taken away by any force or personality, including the devil.
Spiritual blessings are eternal, just as spiritual life is eternal. Spiritual blessings cannot be taken away because those blessings come from God. Do you believe the devil is taking from you something God wants you to have?
The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, wrote this:
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans, Chapter 8, verses 38 and 39)
Maybe you are one of the people who say "the devil is busy>"
While this statement is factually correct, it is not the truth for those who are saved, who live in the kingdom of God, who have been redeemed from death, who live looking forward to spending time and eternity with God.
So, even though on some level the statement "the devil is busy" is a fact, saying this often (or at all) when encountering something that's painful, confusing, or fear-making is a very bad idea.
Why is it a bad idea?
Because energy follows focus.
From Ephesians, Chapter 1, verses 3 through 10:
3"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5heb predestined us for adoption to sonshipc through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9hed made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
Where is your energy when something goes wrong, when someone you trusted betrays you, when the unfairness of human society becomes very clear to you, when you have tried your best and things don't work out?
Here's where your focus should be: "...our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing..." (verse 3 of Ephesians, chapter 1).
Yes, the devil is busy. But the busy-ness of the devil cannot cancel what God does every day on your behalf. The busy-ness of the devil cannot cancel or remove the blessings God has arranged for you, despite your mistakes and failures--or the mistakes and failures of others.
The devil is not the opposite of God. The devil's power is not equal to God. In time, and on God's schedule, that fact will be evident to all creation. If you are a Christian, it should be evident to you now.
Blessings from the heavenly realms cannot be canceled, removed, or taken away by any force or personality, including the devil.
Spiritual blessings are eternal, just as spiritual life is eternal. Spiritual blessings cannot be taken away because those blessings come from God. Do you believe the devil is taking from you something God wants you to have?
The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, wrote this:
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans, Chapter 8, verses 38 and 39)
Do these words describe your perspective on what it means to be a Christian?
When someone or something goes wrong, these words from Romans :39 and 39 should be the very first thoughts to enter your mind and the very first words to move from your lips. If you must speak when you are hurt or shocked, let these be the words you speak.
Yes, the devil is busy, but the devil is also defeated. Do you honestly believe the devil is busier and more powerful than God? Ask yourself why you feel the devil is more involved in what happens to you than God is involved in what happens to you? Do you feel defeated all of the time? Ask God to free you from those misguided feelings. If you are living under God's direction and protection, you should not feel defeated all of the time.
Whose energy flows through the words you speak?
Whose power are you celebrating and focusing on when things go wrong, when the failures and injustices of human society fly into your face and into your experience?
Whose kingdom do you really belong to? Whose power are you celebrating and speaking of?
Where are you focusing your energy?
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