Tactics of Satan: Redirecting Attention Away from God
Satan, in his cunning, does not always resort to lies; he often employs the subtler tactic of redirecting your attention.
The great aim of a lifestyle of worship and obedience to God is not a positive attitude or even an encouraged or peppy disposition. Worship is to focus on God.
The more you deepen your love for God, the stronger your desire to worship and obey him becomes. Yet, love is the fruit of knowing, and knowing is born from attention. The more attention you give to God the more you love. The enemy's strategy is to sever your longing for God at its very source by diverting your attention.
Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The motive for renewing your mind is to identify and choose, in living life, what is the will of God. The renewed mind gives attention to the will of God. It is renewed to know God, obey his will, and live a life pleasing to him.
In Matthew 16, Jesus begins to explain to his disciples that he must 'go to Jerusalem and suffer.' The Apostle Peter objects to Jesus' plan, saying he will not allow it to occur. To this, Jesus responds, “Get behind me, Satan. Your thoughts are not of God but of human concerns.” Jesus rebuked Peter as he rebukes any life not centered on God's will, but consumed by the pursuit of comfort and worldly worries.
Satan will try to convince you to turn your attention so that the concerns of this world drown out your mental availability for the things of God. Satan may not need to lie to you; he may remind you of some disappointment, some worry, some overdue expense, or some uncertainty about the future. But God calls you and me to turn our attention to him, whether we find ourselves in a fruitful season filled with the laugher and support of loved ones or in a dark storm that tests our souls.
Give your attention to Jesus; you will know him better through whatever you face. Know him more, and you will love him more. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
