“Feeling: the messengers of Satan”
My feelings have discouraged me many times, they’ve tried to deceive me, they’ve tried to rob me of my peace and joy in Jesus, and they have harassed and accused me of every little thing possible. But, I have come to recognize all unsettling feeling is a messenger of Satan, intented to bring me down into despair and fear.
I can be going along with my day, happily humming my favorite worship song, talking with the Lord. Suddenly unexpectedly I become overwhelmed with troubling feelings that flood my mind and Spirit. It seems as though the wicked principalities and powers of hell choose to fill me with unwanted negative feelings when I lease expect them.
Sometimes the enemy comes in like a flood, trying to drown me in depressing feelings and negative thoughts. Sometimes, I have a tendency to blame myself, but then I remember what David said in Psalm 42:11 which reads, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall praise Him, my salvation and my God.”
Satan likes to foster fear, doubt, bitterness, and rebellion against God. He likes to create a false reality and encourage people to disregard any good commitment and doubt that will bring God’s faithfulness and act on lies rather than truth.
He often targets people who are already hurting, angry, living in fear or facing adversity. He likes to drive disobedience, to push us to abandon commitments to God or others.
2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that, “The Spirit of God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self discipline. This verse should encourage us that God provides strength to overcome fear, enabling us to act with courage, love, and a sound, controlled mind rather than cowardice or anxiety.
Satan uses intense emotions such as fear, insecurity, offense, and overwhelming feelings to derail our purpose and disrupt our peace. By keeping us focused on volatile emotions rather than faith and logic. This approach aims to fuel confusion, foster disobedience, and trigger sinful reactions that always draws us away from God’s plan for our lives.
There are some key emotional tactics Satan uses to destroy our lives and keeps us from going to heaven.
- Relationship pitfalls
Exploiting loneliness or impatience, leading to poor choices like rushing into relationships, settling for less, or falling into unbalanced unhealthy attachments.
- Mental and emotional distortions
Satan can magnify fear, encourage insecurity, and create deep discouragement that paralyzes any spiritual progress.
- Misleading desires
Using intense desires to push us toward extremes, often taking good things and twisting it into sinful excess.
When we become aware of Satan’s tactics it can change our lives in profound ways.
There are ways to counter Satan’s tactics that I think everyone should be aware of.
- Stand in faith
Rise above fleeting emotions, and do not allow your feelings to dominate your actions.
- Recognize the attack
Identify moments of irrational, fear or overwhelming negativity because potential spiritual manipulation are not just feelings.
- Spiritual guidance
Rely on the promise of the sound mind, love, and power rather than being led by unstable emotional states.
I was listening with a director of psychiatry and a follower of God a few weeks ago and he said that most emotional disorders such as mood or anxiety disorders that involve persistent extreme emotional states that impair daily functioning are based on fear, and shame. I find it interesting that satan can use feelings (or emotions) in those who are suffering from these disorders.
From Pity to Praise 