Do we even realize it?

In her book Set Apart Femininity, Leslie Ludy asks herself this question:

"Was there anything I was allowing into my life, no matter how small, that was providing the enemy access?"

I've begun to realize that the little things we spend our time doing, can not be God-honoring & therefore let Satan in to mess with us. And then we wonder why he won't leave us alone. Leslie goes on to say this:

"By wasting my time and money on the ungodliness of Hollywood, watching movies that glorified sin and darkness, listening to workout music that exalted sensuality, and reading magazines that promoted materialism (no matter how subtle these things were), I had unwittingly participated in the kingdom of darkness instead of the kingdom of light, and thus, had given the enemy access to my spiritual life.

...I threw away movies, books, and music that promoted worldliness, materialism, or fear--even if it was only in a small measure. I wanted no trace of the kingdom of darkness in my life.

...Lovingly and faithfully He helped me close off all enemy access points. As my breaches were identified and dealt with, I found that my prayers were more effective, the Word of God was more alive, and my intimacy with Christ was more vibrant. Instead of constantly warding off enemy's attacks, I now had two free hands to begin rebuilding the wall around my spiritual life.

If you sense the need for spiritual fortification, the first step is to identify any enemy access point in your life. Where is your wall broken and full of breaches, allowing Satan to freely come in and pester you? Ask God's spirit to reveal any and all enemy access points. If you seek Him with a truly open and willing heart, He will show you every hole in your wall that needs restoring.

Often, ...worldly allurements and attractions...are the biggest breaches in our lives, and we unwittingly participate in the enemy's kingdom without even realizing it.

A close friend of mine was really struggling with spiritual attacks upon her life, waking up with horrible nightmares and battling fearful, irrational  thoughts on a nearly-constant basis. One afternoon as we met together for prayer, she casually mentioned that she'd just come from a movie. When she told me which one she'd seen, I was taken aback. It was a horror/suspense film, and though it was one of the "milder" ones, it still was all about demonic darkness and death. She was completely blind to the fact that opening her mind up to those sights, sounds, and images was leaving a gaping breach in her life through which the enemy could gain access.

When we allow our minds to dwell on darkness and death, doesn't it stand to reason that we invite the prince of darkness and death into our minds?

If we watch movies and TV shows that promote sensuality, we open the door for lust and sexual compromise to waltz right into our lives. If we read magazines that feed selfish cravings of our flesh, we open the door for materialism to take root within our souls. If we feed upon pop-culture messages we open the door for selfishness and worldliness to gain a foothold in us.

God says we are to give no "opportunity" to the devil."

Whatever things are true...noble...just...pure...lovely...of good report...virtue[ous]...praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

~Philippians 4:8~

Giving HIM the glory,