How I won victory over the accuser

In my early youth, I decided to live for Jesus. I’m glad I did, because it saved me from a lot of wrong choices that could have led to sin.

Even so, reality was quite different from the expectation I had of a life with Jesus. I imagined a life of harmony, security, peace, joy and good feelings when I gave my heart to Jesus.

But the reality didn’t look like that.

I often asked myself, “Why is this happening to me? Why do I look the way I do? Why doesn’t God send me better circumstances?” I felt like I was in a dark tunnel, distressed and discontented. I doubted that God really loved me and I started to blame God.

“Whose side are you on?”

Then, one day, through God’s grace, I received light. I heard someone from my church saying, “You are either in the spirit of accusation or the spirit of intercession. You are either on Satan’s side or Jesus’ side. There is nothing in between.”

It is written about Jesus, that He is sitting in heaven, praying for us, that it shall succeed for us. (Romans 8:34) He loves us and His words for us are full of hope and faith.

In contrast, Satan’s goal is to steal, to kill and to destroy. He accuses the people day and night. (Revelation 12:10) First he makes the worldly things seem so great – especially the things we don’t have – and then he steals our faith in God and sows doubt. He accuses us of sins we have committed even though we have already received forgiveness for them. He is a master at sowing thoughts of criticism and accusation against others. If we give room to these thoughts, we will always only see the others at fault, not ourselves.

I have a choice: I can either listen to Jesus’ voice – He who gives faith, hope and love, who prays for me and the people around me, and who loves everybody, or I can listen to Satan the accuser, who accuses people and God.

These words woke me up. I realized that I was in the spirit of accusation. I was listening to Satan, without noticing it. All this time, He had been plaguing me with negative thoughts. That was the reason for my dissatisfaction and dark thoughts.

“Never again!”

On that day, I got a hatred against the wiles of the devil, against everything that arose in my thoughts against God. I decided to declare war against Satan from then on, and to only be on Jesus’ side.

When I was tempted to think negative thoughts, I cried out to Jesus, “Give me new thoughts! Fill me with a desire for the good. Help me to be thankful!” I also asked friends to pray for me, so that through Jesus’ help, I could get power over the accuser. Jesus overcame the accuser, also in my life!

Faith in God’s love for me came into my heart. The darkness disappeared and light shone in.

Use the sword!

Today, I fight a conscious battle in my thoughts to say “No!” to Satan.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. I pray to God for help, that I will be aware when the accuser comes. I cast him out with God’s Word. I choose to believe in His Word!

These are some of my “weapons:”

“… in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1.

When I’m tempted to judge others, these words help me:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” Matthew 7:1. or “Take heed to the doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:16. “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Mark 12:31.

Looking past my own “problems”

In this battle, I have learned to be thankful for God’s plan for my life, and I experience that God can do wonders in my thought life! The negative thoughts disappear and I get ideas to bless the people around me. In my circumstances, I can use my talents to bless others, to pray for them, to help them, to speak positively about them in conversation, to encourage them, etc.

God helps me every day. He gives me creative ideas; He shows me what I can improve on; He loves me. That gives me an inner rest and a deep peace that nobody can take away from me.

It is not my circumstances or feelings that are important. What’s important is that I believe in God and obey Him, and that starts in my thoughts.

These experiences have motivated me to continue fighting the good fight of faith. I want to be someone who prays for the others, who stays preserved in the spirit of Jesus and resists the accuser’s spirit, all the days of my life!