For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -Ephesians 6:12 KJV

Ever heard, typically in a church setting, and I paraphrase, “Man, your life sucks right now because the Devil is after you! He knows God is about to do something AMAZING!”

I have…and I don’t like it. It feels like an excuse to explain the reason for a crappy life, that it lacks accountability for the areas of your life that ARE your fault. And, it’s pretty assumptive on our part, thinking we’re SO great that the devil took notice of our amazingness.

Personal responsibility is important to me, as is humility; probably for reasons I’m still unpacking.

Here’s the thing though. I’ve spent years with mixed feelings around this concept…and I feel like it’s finally landing, but not in the original fashion noted.

The devil isn’t omnipotent. Only God is. “The devil isn’t clever because he’s smart, he’s clever because he’s old” (thanks, Bob). Unlike Our Father, he doesn’t KNOW what we’re going to do. He doesn’t KNOW how things will play out. He and his cronies have just been watching human behavior for millennia, know where humanity falls most frequently, and have been following us around our entire lives. He’s seen our past, and he plays on it. Joke’s on him though: we win. Our past doesn’t define our future. We are called to live in the present, so this puts the evil one at a pretty distinct disadvantage.

Even so, he’s a crafty bugger. I believe now that he knows what we may have proclivity toward, and he can “sense” when God is on the move. Think about it. The devil has spiritual visibility we do not. We’re told but often forget what he sees play out on a daily basis. Can you visualize this? God, having started a good work in you and being faithful to complete it, is aligning situations, people, resources, HIS ANGELS around us. The devil can quite literally and in plain sight see God’s army aligning and taking positions around us. How cool is that?

Of course, it’s not great news for the evil one. He sees the tactical movement of our Great God even when we don’t. We often instinctually notice evil manifestations before we sense the power in and around us.

I’ve been in a season of sifting, mentioned many times before. Years. YEARS of sifting. But…I feel the season is changing. And, even as I see the spring burst forth around me, blossoms, lilacs, and Lillies, I FEEL myself about to burst as well.

So, yeah. The devil sees God preparing to do a very good work in you, me. He sees the faithfulness and yes, even the spiritual protections Dad is putting in place and reinforcing RIGHT NOW. Presently. And yeah, with our limited perception of our true power and light, it’s uncomfortable. Painful. Sad. Excruciating in some moments. But it doesn’t compare to the glory that awaits me.

I. Am. So. Excited.

For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to the glory destined to be revealed to us. -Romans 8:18 DLNT