By Kenny Luck

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11

Keyser Soze Was Right

In the taut crime thriller The Usual Suspects the central character, Keyser Soze, drops an iconic film line: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.”

A recent Gallup poll shows that only 59% of American adults believe in the devil—a drop of ten points since 2020.*

I’m not sure how anyone can look at all the misery happening on our planet and NOT believe in a devil.

But that’s the way Satan likes it.

How do we deal with the fact that Satan is alive and well in America—and the world? First, we need to believe the Word. He’s real. Second, we need to apply the weapons we’ve been given for battle. We put on the breastplate of righteousness, notch the belt of truth, don the helmet of salvation, cinch up the shoes of peace, pick up the shield of faith, and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14–17). We’ve read about these accoutrements before, but did you ever notice that the armor is all offensive? It’s all designed for a frontal assault. This means we take the fight to the enemy—we get angry and we get on our knees. We release the power of heaven in our homes and on our families and against the hell-hot arrows the enemy fires at us.

The spiritual armor of God does you no good if its gathering dust on the floor of your prayer closet or if you are running from the battle—where your backside is completely exposed. Don’t lay in the trenches, waiting for the enemy’s attack. Get up and into the Word; charge the enemy’s position in prayer; commission the armies of heaven—the Holy Spirit and His angels—to war for you. The battle is real. Stand and fight.

Father, help me be strong in You and mighty in Your power.

* “Belief in God, the Devil Falls to New Low: Gallup” by Julia Shapero, July 20, 2023; thehill.com

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Final Flight Orientation

God comes to man most powerfully in the midst of his darkest hours and biggest challenges, calling him to trim out his faith and fly into the wind. Versus what? Fragmenting or panicking in the midst of trials, choosing to act “pigeon,” planted comfortably on a ten-foot perch in a cage (looking goofy). The difference between flapping hard to stay aloft versus soaring in a different dimension is knowing how your faith is designed and responding in the midst of some heavy winds. Just as gravity is necessary to experience life, so change and challenge are necessary for God’s Man to soar spiritually and experience growth through the Holy Spirit.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we all had human parents who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live? (Hebrews 12: 7-9)

The difference between worldly punishment and godly discipline is that with God, it is always for our good. Hebrews 12:11 says that for those who are trained by God’s discipline, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

So, how about you? Are you ready to get off that perch and spread those wings? Your Father, through His Spirit, wants to say to you, “Could I have a word with you, son?”

Father, it is time for me to accept your power and soar higher; I will not fight you.

Published with permission from Kenny Luck and Every Man Ministries.

Read more from Kenny Luck: Preparing For Storms, Leaning Into Risk

Kenny Luck is a pastor and author on a mission to revolutionize men's ministry, free men spiritually, and ignite spiritual health worldwide through Every Man Ministries.