My husband and I were laying down together have a non-sexual intimate moment. It was a beautiful moment, it was comfortable, we were chilling together enjoying each other’s company. All of a sudden I started feeling urged to talk about something really important. It was an anxious feeling, I didn’t feel peace at all. What I wanted to talk about was his spirituality, how I wanted us to pray together, and have a more open dialogue about the things of the spirit. This was a topic I’d brotched before. It seems to make him uncomfortable. And in this moment the thought of it was making me uncomfortable. The more I thought about it, and while having a quiet conversation with Yah in my head, I decided that what I initially heard was not the spirit of the Lord. As confused as I was about why a dark spirit would suggest that subject, I put it out of my head and continued on in the moment with my husband.
The next morning, we were again lounging in bed. My husband brings up the topic of our adult daughter (who moved back home a few months ago) and how she needs to get herself on her feet to get a place of her own again. This is a topic that makes me uncomfortable, it causes me anxiety even, and he knows this. It begged the question why? Why would he bring this up now while we are booed up in bed? Didn’t he know it would only cause an argument? Then it occurred to me that that was the reason that I felt urged by a spirit other than God to bring up my husband’s spirituality, to cause disharmony. To disrupt our peace. To create bitterness and add strife. Doing what he does, the enemy sought to steal our moment, kill our peace, and ultimately destroy the marriage. I recognized my enemy. And in this instance it was best not to engage. I decided to resist the devil because a soft word turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) Instead of getting in my feelings, because after all, he DOES know how against I am making my baby feel pressured to leave. I could have taken the bait and snapped, but instead of jumping down that hole, I prayed for God to take those feelings of hurt, and anger away and give me the words to say. And He did. And for the second day in the row, my tender moment with my man was only briefly disturbed and the enemy did not have his way with us. It’s important to remember that we wrestle not with flesh and blood. Our real fight is a spiritual one. (Ephesians 6:12)

Satan uses us against each other to distract us from our God given assignments. Be it your marriage, an assignment to pray for someone or assist them in some way, or your duties as a parent, the enemy does not want to be successful in any of these things. Success in these areas bring salvation and repentance to many. Success in these area damages the kingdom of darkness. Success in these areas brings Glory to God. Don’t be distracted by the distractions friend. In those moments when anger arises, or frustration, or annoyance, stop and think. Look at the bigger picture and identify the real enemy at play. The enemy, Satan, stalks about like a roaring lion seek who he can devour.(1 Peter 5:8) His mission hasn’t changed since his fall, neither has his character. He is a liar. And he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It is he, and his army, that you are up against when problems arise. Certainly not your spouse (even though what they said was stupid!), not your child (even though what they did was foolish!) , not your sister (even though what she said was petty, or your mother (even though how she treated you hurt you). He is not above using your spouse, your children, your family and friends to devour you, my challenge to you this day, don’t let him. Learn to recognize your enemy and fight as he does, in spirit, but with truth. And through Christ, you will always be victorious and able to overcome the attacks of the enemy, as long as you are able to identify him as such.

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12

 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

…..Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:15 (excerpt)