Know Your Enemy

As I feel it important that we have a decent understanding of our arch enemy in this world, I have collated several articles on Satan in this blog post (and credit those authors accordingly).

How Much Authority Does Satan Have in the World?

May 29, 2019

Interview with

John Piper

Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org

Audio Transcript

What legitimate authority does Satan have over this world? It’s a very important question, and it arrives today from a listener named Aaron in Texas. “Hello, Pastor John! In Matthew 4:9 and in Luke 4:6, what authority is Satan talking about? Is he lying that he has authority to give? Or does he truly have authority over the earth? If so, what is it, and how does this relate to God’s complete sovereignty over all things?”

Who Owns the World?

Here’s what the devil actually said to Jesus at the temptation in the wilderness that creates the question we were just asked: “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8–9).

“God considered it wise, as part of his curse on the world after the fall, to give Satan a huge power in this world.”

And here’s Luke 4:5–7: “And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’”

My first answer is that if Jesus had worshiped Satan, of course Jesus would have abdicated his divine authority. He would have ceased to be God. If he were worshiping the devil, he wouldn’t be God. The devil would be God. Satan would then give him the whole world and still control the world because Jesus would not be God. He’d be Satan’s lackey. All of this, of course, did not and could not happen. Satan, as usual, was a fool to suggest it. He’s an idiot. He’s always saying stupid, half-true things.

All Power by Permission

But notice the words of Luke 4:6. Satan is not the ultimate authority in the world because, in Luke 4:6, he admits this: “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me.” By whom? God. In his sovereignty, God considered it wise, as part of his curse on the world after the fall of Adam and Eve, to give Satan a huge power in this world.

But he doesn’t have ultimate power. We’re not dualists. We don’t think there’s God and Satan duking it out for power in the universe. God is God, not Satan. Satan’s not God. All Satan’s power is by permission. He has no autonomy to do anything God does not permit for infinitely wise purposes.

We see Satan given permission to afflict Job, right? This is the same kind of paradigm. The Lord said to Satan in Job 1:12, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” All his acts of opposition to God and God’s people are part of God’s plan as he gives Satan permission to exercise tremendous power in this world.

Real but Defeated

Nevertheless, Satan’s sway in this world is terrible and vast. Here’s what we read.

“All Satan’s power is by permission. He has no autonomy to do anything God does not permit for infinitely wise purposes.”

The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1–2)

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Jesus says in his last night,

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. (John 14:30)

The note that is struck in the New Testament is that in Christ’s death and resurrection, the decisive blow against Satan has been struck. As Satan comes against Jesus in his final hours, Jesus says, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). In John 16:11, he says, “The ruler of this world is judged.”

Here’s Luke 22:53. Jesus says — I love this phrase; he’s just so sovereign — “This is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Jesus basically says, “You know, you get an hour. You get one hour. I know when it starts. I know what it ends. That’s your hour. It’s all by sovereign permission that you can do your dastardly deed in Judas and in me tomorrow morning.”

Power of the Cross

The most important passage on Satan’s defeat in the cross of Christ is Colossians 2:13–15. It goes like this: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.” That’s a sweet sentence. The entire record of your life that you regret — canceled. Here comes the decisive second verse: “This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

“Satan’s one damning weapon against God’s elect is taken out of his hand. There is no unforgiven sin anymore.”

So, in dying for your sins, in nailing your record of debt to the cross, he disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him. He disarmed them by nailing our record of debt to the cross, because Satan’s power is that he’s a great accuser.

If he has nothing in his court folder as he stands before the bar to accuse us, what’s he going to do? He becomes powerless in this courtroom because our record of debts has been canceled. His one damning weapon against God’s elect is taken out of his hand. There is no unforgiven sin anymore. We’re forgiven. So what’s he going to condemn? Nothing.

God Is Greater

Now in every battle with the devil, we can have total confidence of final victory. This is why Romans 8:38–89 says what it says: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers [satanic power included], nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He has been decisively defeated.

A friend told me once about the time when he was converted in college, along with several other athletes. He’s a big, hulking, football-player type. He was converted by an old, elderly woman — a little petite woman. She hosted discipleship groups at her house for these football players twice the size of her. She insisted as her discipleship method that every one of them after their conversion say one hundred times a week, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). I thought, “Wow, that’s a wise way to start a Christian life because that’s really true.”

Who Made Satan?

MAY 11, 2016 | MATT SMETHURST

Satan. What images does that word conjure up for you? An evil creature with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork? A cute kid in a red cape, ringing your doorbell on Halloween?

Cultural caricatures aside, Satan is the personal being whom Christians know as the great deceiver, the archenemy of God and his people.

Scripture says a lot about his character and actions—who he is and what he does—but what about his origins? Where did he come from? Who created the Devil?

Chatty Snake

The story of the Bible opens with creation, with God declaring the universe into being. The first two chapters are a breathtaking scene of order and wholeness and flourishing. No wonder the Maker surveys everything he’s crafted and pronounces it “very good” (Gen. 1:31).

Then, suddenly, a snake. But this isn’t any ordinary snake; this one talks. In fact, it’s quite chatty. Before we know it, the slithering creature has struck up a conversation with Eve, luring her and her silent husband—and you and me—into a revolt against God. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear this ancient serpent is a scaly manifestation of Satan himself (Rev. 12:9).

Genesis of the Devil

The Bible never explicitly tells us where Satan originated. He presumably came into existence sometime after the creation of God’s perfect world (Gen 1:31) prior to his appearance in Eden (Gen. 3:1). Despite these unknowns, however, there are at least five things we can say with certainty.1

1. God created him.

Scripture proclaims all things were created by God and for God (Rom 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16–17). It makes sense, then, that this comprehensive category—“all things”—includes even the Devil. After all, if God wasn’t “behind” Satan’s creation, then who was? Another powerful being? If so, then that being would, at least in one sphere of existence, be in charge. There would be a realm over which God wouldn’t be in full control.

2. God created him good.

As the source of all goodness, beauty, and truth, God creates only what’s consistent with his nature—things that are themselves good, beautiful, and true. Every facet of creation, whether in heaven or on earth, was originally “very good.” As Paul simply observes, “Everything created by God is good” (1 Tim. 4:4). His character is wholly pure; there isn’t a shred of darkness or deception in him (1 John 1:5; James 1:13). And Satan was created as an angel to serve and honor this great God.

Obviously, something went wrong.

3. Some created angels rebelled against God.

On two occasions the New Testament speaks of a time when angels turned on God and fell into wickedness:

God did not spare [the] angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment. (2 Pet. 2:4)

The angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 6)

According to Scripture, there was once an angelic insurrection against heaven’s King.

4. Satan has authority in the realm of demons.

As the “prince of demons,” it seems likely that Satan launched and led this heavenly revolt (Matt. 12:24). Satan, then, was the first sinner; indeed, he’s “been sinning from the beginning” (1 John 3:8).

The Devil’s position as captain of the demonic forces is unmistakable. Scripture refers to him as “the evil one” (Matt. 13:19), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). We witness him spearheading attacks on God’s people (Job 1:6; 1 Chron. 21:1; Zech 3:1), with “power” (Acts 26:18) to “bind” (Luke 13:16) and “oppress” (Acts 10:38).

“Fallen angels are not treated as evil by creation but as followers of Satan in his mutiny,” Michael Horton explains. “At one time the most glorious and powerful angelic agent, Satan was filled with pride and plotted the attempted heavenly coup.”

5. Satan’s evil came from within himself.

No one was around to tempt and lure Satan into sin; his evil arose from within. It’s not surprising, then, that Jesus would call him “the father of lies” and “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44)—language hearkening back to the outset of history.

What About Lucifer?

There is a possible allusion to Satan’s fall from heaven in the Book of Isaiah. As the prophet is describing God’s judgment on the king of Babylon, he veers into language that seems too grandiose to refer to any mere human:

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. (Isa. 14:12–15; cf. Ezek. 28:1–19)

The King James Version translates “morning star” as “Lucifer,” a name meaning “bearer of light.” Though common in religious vernacular, this name doesn’t appear in most modern translations of the Bible.

In sum, while it isn’t certain that this passage alludes to Satan’s pride and subsequent fall from heaven, it definitely could.

Lingering Questions

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about devils,” C. S. Lewis noted in The Screwtape Letters. “One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

We are swimming in the deep end of the mystery pool, with many unanswered questions on which the Scriptures are simply silent. How could a morally pure creature rebel against God? Why did the other angels join the revolt? When did all of this happen?

Even though Christians don’t know all the answers, we know the God who does. And we know that “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

If you’re following King Jesus, take heart. Your enemy was defeated (Col. 2:13–15), he is being defeated (Eph. 6:10–20), and he will be defeated (Rom. 16:20). Yes, he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8), but at Jesus’s death he was defanged, and at Jesus’s return he’ll be destroyed.

In the meantime, his havoc extends only as far as God’s hand allows.

1 These five points are derived from Mike McKinley’s helpful book Did the Devil Make Me Do It? And Other Questions About Satan, Demons, and Evil Spirits (The Good Book Company, 2013), 12–13 [excerpt].

How Did Lucifer Fall and Become Satan?

Lucifer became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. This pride represents the actual beginning of sin in the universe—preceding the fall of the human Adam by an indeterminate time.

Dr. Ron RhodesReasoning from the Scriptures Ministries

The story of Lucifer’s fall is described in two key Old Testament chapters—Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. Let’s briefly look at both of these.

It would seem from the context of Ezekiel 28 that the first ten verses of this chapter are dealing with a human leader. Then, starting in verse 11 and on through verse 19, Lucifer is the focus of discussion.

The Fall of Lucifer in the Bible

What is the rationale for the conclusion that these latter verses refer to the fall of Lucifer? Whereas the first ten verses in this chapter speak about the ruler of Tyre (who was condemned for claiming to be a god though he was just a man), the discussion moves to the king of Tyre starting in verse 11. Many scholars believe that though there was a human “ruler” of Tyre, the real “king” of Tyre was Satan, for it was he who was ultimately at work in this anti-God city and it was he who worked through the human ruler of the city.

Some have suggested that these verses may actually be dealing with a human king of Tyre who was empowered by Satan. Perhaps the historic king of Tyre was a tool of Satan, possibly even indwelt by him. In describing this king, Ezekiel also gives us glimpses of the superhuman creature, Satan, who was using, if not indwelling, him.

Now, there are things that are true of this “king” that—at least ultimately—cannot be said to be true of human beings. For example, the king is portrayed as having a different nature from man (he is a cherub, verse 14); he had a different position from man (he was blameless and sinless, verse 15); he was in a different realm from man (the holy mount of God, verses 13,14); he received a different judgment from man (he was cast out of the mountain of God and thrown to the earth, verse 16); and the superlatives used to describe him don’t seem to fit that of a normal human being (“full of wisdom,” “perfect in beauty,” and having “the seal of perfection,” verse 12 NASB).

Who is Lucifer, Why did He Rebel?

Our text tells us that this king was a created being and left the creative hand of God in a perfect state (Ezekiel 28:12,15). And he remained perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him (verse 15b). What was this iniquity? We read in verse 17, “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.” Lucifer apparently became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. The sin that corrupted Lucifer was self-generated pride.

Apparently, this represents the actual beginning of sin in the universe—preceding the fall of the human Adam by an indeterminate time. Sin originated in the free will of Lucifer in which—with full understanding of the issues involved—he chose to rebel against the Creator.

This mighty angelic being was rightfully judged by God: “I threw you to the earth” (Ezekiel 28:18). This doesn’t mean that Satan had no further access to heaven, for other Scripture verses clearly indicate that Satan maintained this access even after his fall (Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1,2). However, Ezekiel 28:18 indicates that Satan was absolutely and completely cast out of God’s heavenly government and his place of authority (Luke 10:18).

Isaiah 14:12-17 is another Old Testament passage that may refer to the fall of Lucifer. We must be frank in admitting that some Bible scholars see no reference whatsoever to Lucifer in this passage. It is argued that the being mentioned in this verse is referred to as a man (Isaiah 14:16); is compared with other kings on the earth (verse 18); and the words, “How you have fallen from heaven” (verse 12), is alleged to refer to a fall from great political heights.

There are other scholars who interpret this passage as referring only to the fall of Lucifer, with no reference whatsoever to a human king. The argument here is that the description of this being is beyond humanness and hence could not refer to a mere mortal man.

There is a third view that I think is preferable to the two views above. This view sees Isaiah 14:12-17 as having a dual reference. It may be that verses 4 through 11 deal with an actual king of Babylon. Then, in verses 12 through 17, we find a dual reference that includes not just the king of Babylon but a typological description of Lucifer as well.

If this passage contains a reference to the fall of Lucifer, then the pattern of this passage would seem to fit that of the Ezekiel 28 reference—that is, first a human leader is described, and then dual reference is made to a human leader and Satan.

It is significant that the language used to describe this being fits other passages in the Bible that speak about Satan. For example, the five “I wills” in Isaiah 14 indicate an element of pride, which was also evidenced in Ezekiel 28:17 (cf. 1 Timothy 3:6 which makes reference to Satan’s conceit).

As a result of this heinous sin against God, Lucifer was banished from living in heaven (Isaiah 14:12). He became corrupt, and his name changed from Lucifer (“morning star”) to Satan (“adversary”). His power became completely perverted (Isaiah 14:12,16,17). And his destiny, following the second coming of Christ, is to be bound in a pit during the 1000-year millennial kingdom over which Christ will rule (Revelation 20:3), and eventually will be thrown into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41).

What Power Does Satan Have in this World: What Are His Limits?

· Debbie McDaniel

In all that swirls around us today, from news headlines to daily life struggles, we may be aware more than ever of this one thing: we're in a battle. We face an enemy every single day that we're here breathing air. We may not see it. We might forget he’s there. We may lose our focus when things seem tough or get distracted on all that doesn't really matter.

But the truth is - spiritual forces are at work.

There’s one who lurks around us today. He’s real. He’s alive. He’s deceptive and crafty. His primary goal is to strike you down, along with as many others as he can drag down with you. He waits, searches, and watches for the best time to attack – your weakest and most vulnerable moments.

Satan is the enemy of every believer. And he’s not just some guy in a red suit, pitchfork in hand. Don’t be fooled; he’s far more deceptive than that.

He wants nothing more than to silence every Christian and render us completely ineffective. He seeks to gain ground today in as many lives as he can, and in every corner of our world, for he knows his time is limited.

But we don’t have to let him win the battle in our lives.

"We must be alert to what his schemes are so that we're not tricked and taken off guard."

God reminds us in His word to constantly be aware of the devil’s schemes. If we’re aware of how the enemy operates and know what his weaknesses are, he loses effectiveness. The best soldiers understand that when you're in a war, you're never going to win if you don't know who it is you're fighting against. We must be alert to what his schemes are so that we're not tricked and taken off guard.

Revelation 12:4, Isaiah 14:11-15, and Ezekiel 28:12-19 tell us how Satan was cast out of heaven and that a third of the angels fell with him. Though his power is limited, he has many dark forces on his side. We may not know exactly how many demons are at work in this world, yet we can know, according to scripture, there are many.

And though the enemy’s threat may seem real and fierce, he’s not all-powerful. He wants to be. He pretends to be. But the Bible tells us differently. There are things he’d prefer you didn’t know about him because it reveals his weaknesses.

5 Limitations of Satan’s Power:

1. Satan can’t be everywhere at the same time. He must travel around.

Satan has evil forces at work for him, but he is limited in what he can do and where he can be.

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

The book of Job also reminds us that when Satan comes before God to ask his permission to attack Job, God asks him where he has been. And he answers, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." Job 1:7

His words indicate he has must travel about, not able to be in all places at one time. His power is limited in where he can be and all that he can do.

But God is omnipresent.

God can be everywhere, at the same time. He never sleeps or slumbers, He's aware every moment of every day, exactly what we're up against. He knows our way and is with us always. There's no place on this earth we can go that He doesn't see and know about.

“He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;” Psalm 121:3

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

2. Satan is not in full control. His power is limited by God.

Satan’s power is limited, and his destination is certain, so he seeks to take as many with him into destruction as he possibly can, knowing full well that his time is limited.

The book of Job is again a reminder of the enemy’s limitations. He must ask God for permission to bring harm to this God-fearing man, Job. Ephesians 2:2 refers to the devil as "the ruler of the kingdom of the air," and says he works in the hearts of the disobedient. His main aim is to steal, kill, and destroy us. John 10:10 calls him a "thief."

We should be very aware that as we stand against him, we are only secure in the armor of God and protected by His power. We cannot fight this enemy alone. Yet God reminds us to stand strong. He reminds us that there is indeed a real enemy. And He assures us that He is the One who will fight our battles and give us final victory. It’s not up to us or our power and strength. We don’t have enough in and of ourselves. But through Christ and His completed work on the cross, we can stand strong and believe that He is the One who will lead us through even the fiercest of battles.

But our God is omnipotent.

He is all powerful. He reigns supreme. He gives us what we need for every moment in this life. He strengthens us, His Spirit guides us and empowers us for His purposes. He alone holds the power to forgive, the power to set free, the power to save, and the power to give eternal life.

“Salvation and glory and power belong to our God... Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” Revelation 19:1, 6

"For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37 (ESV)

3. The enemy does not know all.

If our enemy does not know all, he cannot read our minds, nor does he possess the power to have the full knowledge that God has. He can overhear our conversations, even to ourselves, he observes our behavior, decisions, and knows our weaknesses.

We should stay very aware that he is studying our lives and can predict our responses based on past decisions. You can be sure that the enemy will use any of our shortcomings to his advantage against us, but he still does not know what God knows. We can be confident of this because of Matthew 4:1-11. He speaks to Jesus in the wilderness and brings temptation against Him, yet there’s no indication that he knows ahead of time how our Lord will respond.

No matter what we’ve done, where we’ve been, or past mistakes we’ve made, no matter what information the enemy tries to hold against us, we do not have to be held back in fear.

But God is omniscient.

He is all-knowing. He sees all and knows all. He knows everything about us: every word before we say it and every thought before we think it. And He still loves us more than we could ever imagine. He is the One we live for. We trust in the power of His truth, not the voice or the lies of the enemy.

“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5

“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:2

4. Satan is a created being He is not equal to God.

Many times, people may make the mistake of assuming that Satan is an opposing force “equal” to God. But the enemy is far from equal to God Almighty. He was created as an angel in heaven. He was there to bring worship to God Himself. And because of pride of his own desire to be worshipped, he fell from heaven, taking many angels with him. These are the dark forces we wage war against in this life. But the truth to remember is that Satan was an angelic being created by a loving God. By his own choices, he fell from his position in heaven and his destiny is doomed.

“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.” Isaiah 14:11-13

God alone is the Creator.

He made us, the world, all that we see and know. Everything that exists around us is because God Himself brought it into being. That is a power the enemy could never duplicate or manipulate. He is not God. He is not the Creator. God is clear in His word that his angels are under His command, doing his work and obeying His word.

“For thus says the LORD—He who created the heavens; He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—'I am the LORD, and there is no other.’” Isaiah 45:18

“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.” Psalm 103:20

5. The devil’s destiny is already determined. He’s lost the battle.

Scripture is clear that the end of Satan and all his demons and dark forces will come. He cannot stand against God Almighty. He will never hold the final victory against the Lord and His children. Christ has already won that battle when He defeated sin and death by His work on the cross. It’s only a matter of time that the enemy is cast down once and for all.

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

Maybe the time seems slow in coming. The spiritual battle around us continues to escalate and it’s hard some days to keep going strong. We get weary. We wonder why the attacks keep coming, and sometimes we feel all alone. But God longs for as many as possible to know His love. He is kind and merciful and wants many more to know the freedom Christ offers.

This one truth rings true no matter what we face in this life: Christ won.

Jesus won the victory over the enemy. He crushed his head, and Satan’s doom is coming. As the last days are upon us, may God keep us forever aware that time is short. May we continue to be a light in a dark world, that seeks to point others to Christ’s love and forgiveness. There is hope because of Jesus. The enemy would want us to think all hope is gone. But we know better. Jesus is victorious and because of Him, we live free.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

Christ overcame all evil. The power of the Resurrection proves - He won. And that same power fights for us even now. The enemy may try every scheme possible to distract, tempt, or lure us away with fear, lies, and manipulation, but as believers, he does not hold our future in his hands. Only God does that. And we are forever secure in His power.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

In whatever you face, know that He is with you, know that He is for you, and He fights for you.

May God’s grace and strength fill you today, as you live aware of His constant covering and protection.

Stay close to Him, live aware, and stand strong.

Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's Facebook page, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. Find her also on Twitter and at her blog www.debbiemcdaniel.com.