When The Enemy Attacks | Steven Furtick

Recognizing the Enemy’s Tactics and Strengthening Your Spiritual Readiness

If you take a close look at your life—and I did this just this week—you’ll start to notice patterns. These are the moments when the enemy attacks. But if you build stronger spiritual habits into the rhythms of your daily life, you’ll be better prepared. Readiness and rhythm go hand in hand.

Your life’s rhythm cannot be defined by isolation and still lead to victory. It cannot be filled with constant complaining and still produce overflowing joy. The enemy is always searching—looking for someone to devour. He targets those who aren’t paying attention.

Think about it. You just took family pictures. Everything went well, but you still found yourself feeling triggered or unsettled. Why? It wasn’t the photos. It wasn’t the experience. It was something deeper. That’s why next time, you need to be spiritually prepared. Instead of reacting emotionally, you can strengthen your spirit, speak truth over yourself, and be ready.

There are two key moments when you must intentionally reflect: after a victory and after a loss. When you win, ask yourself: What prepared me for this? Some of us have certain friends who uplift us and help us walk in victory. Others, however, drain our spirit and leave us feeling cynical. Pay attention to these relationships. Many of the struggles you face are a direct consequence of who you spend the most time with.

The same principle applies to what you consume online. Sometimes, you feel uneasy or discontent, but it’s not your circumstances—it’s what you scrolled through 15 minutes ago. Social media can plant seeds of comparison, judgment, and dissatisfaction. The impact isn’t immediate, but it shows up later, robbing you of joy and gratitude.

The enemy is cunning—he hides the hook. If you realized in the moment that social media was making you discontent, you’d stop scrolling. If you recognized that an argument wasn’t worth your peace, you wouldn’t engage. But the devil disguises his traps. That’s why you have to be vigilant.

Stop taking the bait. How many times will the enemy lure you in before you resist? How many times will you let negativity, anxiety, or temptation pull you under? If you don’t recognize the enemy’s tactics, he will consume you.

The Apostle Peter wrote to the persecuted church between AD 60 and 70, but his words still apply today: Be alert and sober-minded. The enemy is looking for someone to devour.

Is that someone you? Have you unknowingly trained the enemy to expect your surrender? Does he know that a single anxious thought can drag you down for days? Does he recognize that a little discomfort is enough to push you toward harmful coping mechanisms?

If you don’t pay attention to the patterns in your life, you become easy prey. But through spirit-led reflection, the Holy Spirit can reveal these patterns, equipping you to handle challenges differently next time. This isn’t about blaming the past—it’s about preparing for the future.

Stay vigilant. Strengthen your spirit. Walk in victory.