Satan’s annual resolution is to erase the love out of our relationship with God. He is more than okay with us believing that God exists (even demons believe that). He is cool with a contractual view of God (do good works and God will do you good). What he can’t stand, however, is when we believe that God is love and when we love him in return. He himself doesn’t believe it, and he doesn’t want you to believe it either.
This is why Satan slandered the loving relationship between God and Job, claiming Job only used God to get a good life. “But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face,” Satan hissed (Job 1:11). Strangely, God allowed that very thing to happen to Job. Wonderfully, Job didn’t do what the devil assumed he would. Job fell down in worship. He praised the name of the Lord.
I wonder if Satan gnashes his teeth when hurting people go to church. Or when arthritic hands fold for another dinner prayer. Or when widows read devotions like this one. Just when Satan assumes we will curse God in our pain, we instead turn to him in praise. We thank him for being with us. We ask him for healing but then say, “Your will be done.” We worship him for giving us heaven, an eternal home where pain is extinct.
Praise God today even if you’re in pain. The devil will hate it. But the God of love will love it.
