By Nadine Brandes
Satan whispers, “You’re mine.”
They’re the most frightening and convincing words he can say. It attacks a fear in all of us–that we’re actually dark inside and no amount of good-doing or Bible-reading will get us free from his sneaky claws. He whispered these words to me last night, telling me, “You’re incapable of love. You’re messed up. You’re broken.” But this morning I woke to God whispering, “I’ve taught you to love. I’ve vacuumed up your mess. I’m the best super-gluer in existence.”
One of the hardest parts of Satans words are that they’re usually true. He tells you words that are true without God. Without God, I am incapable of real love. Without God, I’m messed up. Without God, I’m severely broken. People say, “Don’t listen to Satan’s lies.” But he lies less than we say he does; instead, he tries to make us forget our Lord by telling us who we are without God. He knows that we fear being distant from God. If Satan can convince us that we are…oh the power he has. Take a look at the first time we hear him speak:
“And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ” (Genesis 3:2-5)
The Bible calls Satan “cunning”–having or showing skill in achieving one’s end by deceit or evasion. Everything he said to Eve was true: she wouldn’t die instantly, but they’d die eventually because of sin. Their eyes would be opened, but their hearts would be darkened. They would know good and evil, which is a knowledge that God also has, but God knew the pain that knowledge would bring.
You see–Satan told the truth, but shadowed their knowledge of God’s character. He said they weren’t close enough to God to understand the tree. He just covered the negatives of the Tree with the sparkly paint of desire.
The trick is to remember who you are with God, not who you are with Satan. With Satan, you are ugly, you are helpless, you are dark, you are unpleasant, you are incapable of right love. With God, your heart is a thing of beauty because it’s given into His artistic hands. You have endless strength. You have life and light in Him (Psalm 36:9). You welcome others into joy and life. You have the greatest teacher of love in all forms.
These words may seem “feel-good” or over-used, but the main question right now is who are you with? That determines what’s truth and what’s not. Today I’m with God. Tomorrow, I may forget Him in the morning and remember Him in the evening. Satan’s truths may be louder in the darkness of night, but I’ll cling to unity in God the moment I remember light.
Faith is active. Choice is active. Let’s defeat the enemy by being active children of our Master.
Nadine Brandes (previously Shea) married her best friend, Daylen Brandes, on Dec. 17, 2011. She received her Bachelors of Science from Biola University, and is currently a graduate student at the University of Central Missouri studying speech pathology. This multi-talented young lady is a writer, pianist, snowboarder, drummer, and so much more, all to serve the Most High King, Jesus Christ.
Read more of Nadine Brandes work at Quest of a Writer .
Header Photo Credit: Ben Champlin 2011
Awesome message, and one I hope we all hold onto throughout this New Year. God loves us even when we mess up.