"Know your enemy and know yourself
and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."
and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."
- Sun Tzu
It is often said in church circles, "Don't give the devil too much credit," and I would agree. But I would also say the opposite is true: don't give him too little credit either. Whether the "opponents" in your life are Satan himself, or other issues, habits and problems, be careful that you don't underestimate them. Don't belittle them. Don't "just..." them:
"I'll just have one (more) drink..."
"It's just a movie; it's not like I'm doing it."
"I'll just put it on my credit card. I'll pay it off right away."
"Oops, guess I blew that. I'll just start over tomorrow."
If you struggle with boundaries in sexuality, then don't put yourself in situations where it feels nearly impossible to say "No." If you struggle with alcohol, don't belittle the power of "just one drink." If you have "kicked the habit" in some area of your life, don't buy into the lie of "just one last time" or "I'll start over tomorrow."
The ancient military master Sun Tzu says it this way: "Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient."
The principle of "Never Underestimate Your Enemy" is not a matter of living out a defeatist mentality. It is a matter of facing reality. Truth is simply, reality. There is positive truth, and there is negative truth, but either way, if it is real, if it is honest, then it is true. Learning not to underestimate our enemies means learning to say what is true of them. It means calling it like it is and acknowledging their level of strength. It means not belittling them or demeaning them, but admitting it: I have an enemy, and it is powerful. I have met my match.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ENEMY:
"The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose." (Sun Tzu)
In Job 1:6-7, we see that when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, "Satan came also among them." Then, "The Lord said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Then Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From roaming about on the earth and walking to and fro on it.'" My dad often encourages me by reminding me, "God is always working." It's true that God is always working - and so is Satan. So, expect attack. Expect that when you feel strong, he will hunt for a way to make you weak. Expect that when you feel weak, he will find a way to take advantage of that weakness. Even Jesus was not exempt:
"And He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals..." (Mark 1:13)
In the wilderness. Being tempted by Satan. With the wild animals.
Never underestimate your enemy.
Expect attack.
Be prepared for him.
WHEN temptation comes, don't be caught off guard or be deceived into rationalizing it or "just"-ing it. Call it what it is. RESPECT it. Then prepare AHEAD of time to win. If it is stronger than you, then don't arm wrestle with it. The best way to beat an MMA fighter is not to get in the cage with him in the first place.
"I'll just have one (more) drink..."
"It's just a movie; it's not like I'm doing it."
"I'll just put it on my credit card. I'll pay it off right away."
"Oops, guess I blew that. I'll just start over tomorrow."
If you struggle with boundaries in sexuality, then don't put yourself in situations where it feels nearly impossible to say "No." If you struggle with alcohol, don't belittle the power of "just one drink." If you have "kicked the habit" in some area of your life, don't buy into the lie of "just one last time" or "I'll start over tomorrow."
The ancient military master Sun Tzu says it this way: "Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient."
The principle of "Never Underestimate Your Enemy" is not a matter of living out a defeatist mentality. It is a matter of facing reality. Truth is simply, reality. There is positive truth, and there is negative truth, but either way, if it is real, if it is honest, then it is true. Learning not to underestimate our enemies means learning to say what is true of them. It means calling it like it is and acknowledging their level of strength. It means not belittling them or demeaning them, but admitting it: I have an enemy, and it is powerful. I have met my match.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ENEMY:
"The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose." (Sun Tzu)
In Job 1:6-7, we see that when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, "Satan came also among them." Then, "The Lord said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Then Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From roaming about on the earth and walking to and fro on it.'" My dad often encourages me by reminding me, "God is always working." It's true that God is always working - and so is Satan. So, expect attack. Expect that when you feel strong, he will hunt for a way to make you weak. Expect that when you feel weak, he will find a way to take advantage of that weakness. Even Jesus was not exempt:
"And He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals..." (Mark 1:13)
In the wilderness. Being tempted by Satan. With the wild animals.
Never underestimate your enemy.
Expect attack.
Be prepared for him.
WHEN temptation comes, don't be caught off guard or be deceived into rationalizing it or "just"-ing it. Call it what it is. RESPECT it. Then prepare AHEAD of time to win. If it is stronger than you, then don't arm wrestle with it. The best way to beat an MMA fighter is not to get in the cage with him in the first place.
"Be alert and of sober mind.
Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith...
And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,
After you have suffered a little while,
Will Himself restore you and make you strong,
firm and steadfast."
- 1 Peter 5:8-10
ah....love it! sun tzu, finally in a tara post! great word... and i know a thing about the benefits of knowing your enemy@!
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