The times that Satan chooses to tempt us are often like when he chose to tempt Jesus. Jesus had just fasted in the wilderness for forty days. He was tired and hungry – that is when Satan came. Evil plies him when he is at his weakest.
Isn’t that when Satan usually tempts us too? Evil doesn’t come knocking in the middle of a good day at work or while we are enjoying a nice dinner with the family. Evil comes after a long day at work when we come home feeling a bit grumpy. Evil comes just after we have been scolded for something we ought to have don (or not done). We are angry, tired, offended, grumpy – whatever. It is then that temptation can win.
But Satan is good – he can also enter when we are feeling great. That sermon or presentation or game that we thought went really well? Didn’t “I” do well?! Here too we can be caught. It is so easy to think that the things done well are the result of something we did instead of something God blessed us with. Here too we can be caught.
Just as Satan’s attacks are constant, so too must be the attention we give to our walk with Christ. Just as Jesus answered every temptation from the Devil with scripture from God, so too must we know the Word. When we call on the mighty name of the Lord, Satan will indeed flee. When we pray out to God, He is faithful. He will answer. In Ephesians 6: 11 and 14 we read: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”