Get to know your enemy

"The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved." (Samuel Smiles) All 'battles' have a battleground. All 'wars' have some strategy of warfare. The hardest battles are those where we find it hardest to zero in on the 'right' form of warfare for the battle at hand.

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!” (Psalm 35:1-3)

There are battles of words and there are battles of wits. Which one would you want to fight? Words can be harsh or healing, helpful or devoid of real depth, critical or poignant - maybe that is the battle you will fight. Wit can put you in a place where you perceive something a bit better than another - perhaps this is the battle you should fight. Wit is what actually reveals the connection between the words and the intent or meaning of those words. 

Perception is paramount to success on the battlefield. We need to understand our enemy and then be open to formulating a plan that actually shows how well we perceive our enemy's every move. How do we get to know our enemy that well? I think we find out most about the enemy we are fighting by observing what he does. His words will reveal one thing, but his actions reveal something else. See what causes him to advance and formulate the plan to staunch his advance. See what causes him to halt in his path and create the plan that stops him dead in his tracks.

Get into the Word of God - learn how God moves and you will surely recognize when the army advancing against you is NOT his! You don't have to get to know the devil as much as you need to get to know your God! When you recognize the movement and tact of the one who sits as Commander & Chief in your life, you soon recognize when any movement is contrary to how he moves. That contrary movement is sure to be something cooked up by the enemy of your soul! Just sayin!