“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

John 10:10 NLT

Yesterday my pastor preached an incredible message that really impacted me. I wanted to share a short glimpse of what I took away from it—because even a glimpse of God’s truth can change your life.

Following Jesus Doesn’t Remove the Battle—It Reveals It

When you say yes to Jesus, life doesn’t suddenly become easier. You don’t step into a perfect life where nothing opposes you. In fact, the moment you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, you make an enemy—the devil.

Before Christ, the devil never saw you as a threat. But now, as a child of God, you carry the authority of Christ, and that makes you dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. You’re no longer separated from God and His power.

So How Do We Defeat the Enemy?

The Bible tells us clearly what the enemy desires:

“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.”

Anything not surrendered to God becomes vulnerable.

The way to defeat the devil is by giving God your entire life—every part, every desire, every decision. Jesus said:

“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life.”

Luke 14:26 NLT

Jesus isn’t commanding us to literally hate others. This is the same Jesus who told us the second greatest commandment is to love others. What He’s saying is that our love for God should be so deep, so radical, so consuming, that everything else looks small in comparison.

Why? Because you cannot truly love people the way God calls you to unless He is first.

When God Has Everything, the Devil Has Nothing

When you die to your old life and step into your new life in Christ, you belong fully to Him. And here’s the truth:

The devil cannot steal what belongs to God.

He may attack your flesh.

He may tempt, pressure, and intimidate.

But he cannot prevail over what God possesses.

God has given us authority over the devil. We are not called to live in fear—only to live aware, alert, and anchored in Christ.

Stay Alert. Stay Prepared. Stay Surrendered.

The enemy sees you as a threat because you carry the light of Christ. So stay awake spiritually. Don’t be naïve to the enemy’s strategies. And above all—give God everything.

When He holds your life, the enemy cannot.