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Many of us believers are being taken in by Satan’s tactics, and once he gets a foot in the door, so much damage is done.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians that we must not let Satan outwit us, for “we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11). When you’re unaware of his schemes, you just make his job easy. I want to point out some common ways that Satan gets a foot in the door, and I hope it will cause you to understand where Satan may be trying to get in your door.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Satan came at him in a time of need. Satan will try to get to us through our unmet needs. First, Jesus was physically hungry and so Satan worked on his physical need: “Turn these stones to bread,” he said to Jesus. What physical unmet need is in your life: sex, health issues, body comforts? Be on your guard that Satan doesn’t use that as an open door.
Is your unmet need for acceptance or approval? Satan told Jesus that he would give him authority and splendor if first Jesus would worship him, appealing to his ego. If your need for approval or recognition is most important to you, that’s an open door for Satan. He’ll tempt you to lower your standards in order to find approval in the wrong places. He’ll lead you to places you don’t want to go with people you should not be with because of your unmet need for approval and acceptance.
Satan tried to tempt Jesus with power, and if you’re looking for power in your life, it could be a trap door you’re opening to let Satan in. It’s a common desire to want to feel like you’re in control and have power in your situation. But that’s when you could be most vulnerable to Satan’s tactics. Beware when you think you’re standing, Paul wrote, because when you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall (1 Cor. 10:12).
So, I encourage you to ask yourself some probing questions about any unmet needs there may be in your life. If you recognize that you have one that has opened the door to Satan’s influence in your life, confess it to Jesus, and ask Jesus to fill that empty space. Second Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Read that verse, repeat it daily—You have all that you need in Jesus. He will meet your needs.