Binding the adversary

I’ve got some fantastic strengths.

Aaaaaand I’ve got some pretty brutal weaknesses. ⁣

Satan is a smart guy. ⁣

He knows what my weaknesses are. ⁣

So he crafts temptations that perfectly prey on my weaknesses. ⁣

But, just to be clear, my weaknesses are a part of who I am. I see them as opportunities to strengthen myself and become more Christlike. They were given to me from my Father in Heaven. ⁣

Satan is NOT in my weaknesses. ⁣

But he’ll do whatever he can to get me to fall away from my faith by placing temptations before me that are most likely to work based on my weaknesses. ⁣

Anyone else excited for the time that John saw where:

“He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years”. (Revelation 20:2)

While we can’t completely eliminate the adversary right now, how can we find little ways to “bind” Satan in our lives each day?

How can we minimize the ability he has to influence us for bad?⁣

Two strategies that have worked for me:

1. Call him out. ⁣

I’m too tired to pray tonight. – Wait, really? Even a one minute prayer? I’ve got time for this. ⁣

2. Fill my life with tons of good things. ⁣

I fill it with so much prayer and so many scriptures and so much kindness and service that I hardly have time for the bad thoughts. ⁣

Every single time I start listening to more conference talks, scriptures, and uplifting music, then my temptations to waste time or view not-so-uplifting media dwindle.

“The only power I know of that will bind Satan, or render him powerless, is righteous living.” – Eldred G. Smith

Satan is real.

But who has infinitely more power than Satan?⁣

Our Savior, Jesus Christ. ⁣

And who has access to Christ’s literal priesthood power? ⁣

Anyone who has made covenants with God and keeps them with intention.

We can have the adversary “bound” as much as possible in our lives because we have access to Christ. ⁣

And that is true hope.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black