The Accuser

 As I was praying this morning and being quite irritated that the devil is still up to his tricks of saying to the Father, who knows ALL things, the things we do each day that are incriminating against us. Can you hear the glee in the devil's voice as he reiterates them? Stop for just a moment and begin to realize that this is precisely what the devil does to the Father, the Triune God... against Him to us! Isn't the doubt that springs uninvited the devil's voice accusing God to us? Of course it is! Had I realized this?... of course I didn't. For a smart person I don't always put 2 and 2 together to reach 4. Silly really.

Since the devil is not creative, all he can do is repeat what he sees, hears from us. And we are great at providing ways we go about spreading 'fake news', deceit, lies, gossip, etc. Plus, some of us have a master's degree in shooting ourselves in the foot! For just a moment look at how the devil uses his wiles. When he comes against us with doubt... what are we doubting? Is it a 'thing' or is it a person? or is it an interpretation of scripture? Is it another person? Or is it a combination of all of the above? Yep - all, and some I haven't indicated.

I've also noticed that he uses our former selves against us... especially when it comes to the Word that tells us:

   "He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], Nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father loves his children, So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]." [Psalm 103: 10-13]

We may longingly look at these verses, but do we accept them as the truth they are or do we listen to the voice that tells us... we really have committed the unpardonable sin... or do you think God cares so much for you that He would allow the travesty you committed to go unpunished... or do you really believe He has forgiven you - don't forget His words when He said that He was a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). And those are only some of the arguments the devil will use. Do you actually accept what the devil is saying? He does know scripture and how to use it against us or against the Lord.

I find myself totally irritated with myself when I discover I have bought into one of the devil's lies. Really, I should be more mature. I should do what scripture teaches:

   " Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world." [1 John 4:1-3] 

This gives us the what [test] and the answer. How much more do we need to defeat the accuser not only of ourselves but of the Lord?! And if you are accusing the accuser... to whom? God already knows. Why not defeat the devil the same way Jesus did - It Is Written! - and tell him NO! We really can resist the devil and not become ensnared with his attempts to defeat us, accuse us, or accuse the Lord.