The new man is no longer a slave of sin but hidden with Christ in God. To fully embrace this identity is the hope and answer to all our dilemmas. It follows that we would deliberately avoid the thoughts or words or activities of the enemy.

Refusing to give attention to our adversary is not sufficient, however. To stop walking the wrong way, merely leaves you standing still. Having stopped, we must redirect what we give our thoughts, words, and attention to.

Many Christians continually mull their weaknesses, failures, shortcomings, quirks, or the broken histories they’ve endured. They spend their lives trying to understand, reconcile or accommodate these life ‘elements.' Some call such analysis ‘being realistic,’ or ‘owning our stuff.’ Such terms give a tone of tough discipleship. While we should address, admit, confess, or try to understand these aspects of our lives, we should not make a permanent career of it.

Instead, let’s seek to know the new man Christ paid His life for us to be, giving thoughts, words, and attention to whom Christ has declared we are. We must pursue by faith to clothe ourselves with the truth regarding the elements of life God has created in us?

So, we can declare that we’re just not gonna give the enemy the time of day, and yet spend a lifetime sortin’ out our stuff. I’m thinking the devil has no problem with you ‘winning’ like that.

No. Don’t fall for it. The liar no longer has a right to our heart or brain space. He must not be permitted to control the agenda or dictate the dialogue of our inner life. That sacred space, now inhabited by the Prince of Life, can freely employ its resources for the creative, faith-filled actions that please and display the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.