But resist him, be firm in your faith (against his attack—rooted, established, immovable), knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:9 (AMP)
Everything starts in the mind; from how we handle money and view leadership, to our emotions and relationships. It all starts with a thought, so it’s no mystery why Satan constantly works to tie up our minds with misbeliefs and deception. It’s how he tries to control us.
In fact, this process is what today’s verse is talking about. The suffering it mentions is the constant barrage on your mind; the relentless mind games that rise up as thoughts in your head. When we are bombarded by negative thoughts, we need to realize that we may very well be under attack.
Now, the enemy doesn’t have power. Jesus stripped him of that 2000 years ago, so all he can use are lies and deception to try to get us to use our own power against ourselves. So, when it says to ‘resist him,’ it’s talking about the devil. And what are we trying to protect by resisting him? Our hearts and minds, and we do so by growing in God’s Word until we stand firm like trees–rooted, established and immovable in our faith against the enemy’s mind games!
As born-again believers, we can follow the teachings of Christ by meditating on the Word of God and getting His beliefs into our hearts. When we do, we develop minds so clear, and purpose and focus so amazing, that the enemy can’t get past this phenomenal shield.
Developing the mind of Christ involves fortifying our minds with the truth like a protective armour, and then no mind games are allowed!