Imagine we’re playing a football game, but we can’t see an opponent. So we obviously think the game is going to be pretty easy.

But as it begins we keep running into invisible roadblocks and frustrations. This makes us scratch our heads. Why isn’t this easier?

But then someone tells us that we’ve been misinformed: We actually DO have an opponent, but it’s an INVISIBLE opponent.

All of a sudden that changes everything. We learn more about our opponent, take them seriously, and equip ourselves accordingly!

I realize it’s not a popular or easy topic, but this is what I think it’s like when we pretend the Devil and his minions aren’t there. When you read through the Gospels, Jesus and his followers took the invisible-but-real battle between good and evil very seriously, and they equipped themselves accordingly.

As it says in Ephesians 6:12: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil…”

The good news is that there is no need to fear: The Devil’s Achilles’ heel is biblical truth and prayer in Jesus’ name.

So root yourself in biblical truth, and pray for protection against the evil one who would love nothing better than to intimidate and unplug Jesus’ people from being his hands and feet of truth and love in the world.

Do you get frustrated in life because you’re living as if there’s no one on the other side of the football field? Jesus and his followers took the invisible-but-real battle between good and evil seriously, and they equipped themselves accordingly.

So should we.

The Devil’s Achilles heel is biblical truth and prayer in Jesus’ name.

By Matthew Ruttan

–Today’s “Up!” touches on a challenging topic, and one that a lot of people haven’t learned much about. It’s based on my 26-minute podcast called “But deliver us from evil: Understanding the spirit-world battle you’re already in.” You can listen in here.

–“Three dog-rearing tips… applied to kids.” That’s my latest blog. (I hope I don’t offend anyone.) You can read it here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.