God delights in a robust relationship with every one of His children, and He will go to any extent to sustain it. The devil has no power to destroy such a relationship. However, you alone determine the trajectory of this relationship.
On one hand, you have God, who will spare nothing to ensure the success of your relationship with Him. But one thing that can affect it is sin. The devil will not stop you from going to church, singing, or jumping; instead, he will systematically shift your focus away from God. He knows he cannot tempt you outrightly to steal, kill, or do something extreme, but he will quietly lead you away through subtle disobedience, such as ignoring divine instructions not to go somewhere, refusing to get up and pray, refusing to forgive, or engaging in things God knows will not end well.
According to 1 Samuel 15:23:
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
Rebellion is resistance to an established government, in this case, the government of God. It is defiance of His authority and control. So whenever you rebel against or resist God’s directives or guidance, you are practicing witchcraft. You are no different from witches.
Stubbornness is not only refusing to believe a crucial message but also despising or looking down on the person God sent to deliver it. The Bible equates it with idolatry. An idol is not only a carved object; anything in your heart that refuses to bow to God’s Word is an idol.
That pride and arrogance…
That “this is how we are in my family”…
That anger you justify because “you can’t take any nonsense from anyone”…
Even when the Spirit of God keeps telling you to deal with it (Job 41:34, Romans 12:16, 2 Corinthians 12:5).
These things look innocent, but the enemy uses them to build strongholds.
Unforgiveness, yes, someone wronged you, but God said forgive. Unforgiveness is like cancer. When you hold on to it, it eats away at you, your health, your organs, your finances, and your peace.
My dear beloved, is it worth it?
Must you lose your joy, peace, and God’s favour because someone expressed an opinion or made a statement that didn’t come from God? Must you crumble because someone rejected you, when your Creator has not rejected you? Or because someone thinks you’re “not enough,” when God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made?
The devil will keep whispering that you’re not at fault, that you have every right to be angry and refuse to forgive. Your heart then begins to build resentment until you desire to see that person hurt or destroyed. Before you know it, the idol becomes so large that you are waiting eagerly to hear bad news about them so you can lift your hands in thanksgiving that “God has judged your enemy.”
But that is not godly, and that is not God at work.
God is love, and He expects you to walk in love.
He said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” (Romans 12:19)
The devil will even use people close to you to incite you, giving advice that sounds right but contradicts God’s instructions. Be watchful. They are not bad people; their judgement is simply based on earthly reasoning, not divine guidance.
Moreover, God expects total and absolute obedience from you. You will be measured by this, not by the actions of others.
There are little foxes that spoil the vine, things that seem inconsequential to you but which the enemy uses because you are not spiritually alert. Before you realize it, they grow into something large and difficult to handle. Backsliding doesn’t happen in a day; it happens gradually.
When the devil keeps magnifying the things you don’t yet have, you slowly lose joy over the things God has already done for you. Soon, your joy disappears, your strength to praise weakens, and your confidence in an unfailing God fades. Then the devil begins to subtly plant suggestions, and before long, you begin to consider following his ways. He will show you stories of people who “succeeded” by going his way, but he will never show you what they exchanged for it.
Dear beloved, it is not worth it.
Your Father is working behind the scenes. He has promised you peace, not evil, and He will give you your expected end.
Rejoice always.