5 Sneaky Schemes of the Devil

by Debbie Danner

Fear of the dark. A monster under the bed. A strange noise. Something in your closet. These are some irrational fears of children. We all have experienced some sort of uneasiness like this. And the truth is, it is the fear of the unknown.

I had something similar; however, I was an adult. Perhaps you are in the same situation.

My fear was of Satan. Just as a child shivers in bed, covers up their head, and lays there anticipating the worst, so did I. I hated to admit the foreboding feeling I had toward, well, all of life.

You see, I had always heard that Satan was on the prowl seeking to devour us, and that he was here to steal, kill, and destroy. How could we live in victory if the schemes of the devil were thwarting our every move? And that nagging question had me at a spiritual standstill.

My problem was that I was missing the answer I needed to forever lay that question to rest.

Before we get to this key answer, let’s talk about the devil’s plan to steal, kill, and destroy and what it looks like.

What Are the Wiles of the Devil?

The wiles of the devil are simply the tricks he uses and the lies he tells to stop believers in their tracks – to get them off course and defeat them. Satan knows his time is short, so he is going to make every effort to cripple the believer who doesn’t know how powerless he really is. So what are some of the schemes that Satan uses to do this?

Scheme of the Devil #1 – He Gets to Know You

He learns your weak areas and most vulnerable ones. He then tempts you in them, creating an environment where you think going a little further wouldn’t be that bad.

If he’s using this scheme on you, he tells you lies like, “He seems to like you; your husband will never even know if you talk to him,” or “Nobody will notice if you take the money; and you do need it…” or “This website isn’t as inappropriate as the one so-and-so looks at.”

Satan even tried this scheme on Jesus! After Jesus had been baptized, he went into the wilderness ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ (Luke 4:1). He remained there for 40 days, fasting and praying. Guess what? He was hungry, so Satan found a weak spot and tempted him, saying, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Satan also finds your strengths and God-callings and tries to make you feel insecure in those areas. He says things like, “Why did you ever think you could have a successful ministry?” or “Your kids are so messed up; you’re such a bad mom.” Speaking of which…

Scheme of Devil #2 – He Piles on Shame and Condemnation

He throws past sins at you – even ones you have confessed and moved on from – so you are focused on your failures rather than your forgiveness.

He causes you to run into people who point out your past mistakes. Or he brings a social media post from a time you aren’t proud of back into your feed. Or he fills your head with nagging thoughts about that poor choice you once made.

Scheme of the Devil #3 – He Makes You Busy

He pulls your attention away from prayer and Bible study by filling your life up with busyness, leading to distraction and exhaustion. He even goes so far as to make you think you are working for the Lord in your busyness.

When employing this scheme, Satan will tell you that something you’re doing is good, even if it isn’t. Or he’ll tempt you with mindless activities, like scrolling Facebook or “window-shopping” on Amazon, so you run out of time for the things God wants you to do – things that will enrich your life and fulfill His plan for you and those around you.

Scheme of the Devil #4 – He Plays Mind Games

Another one of the devil’s wiles is he tries to fill your mind with thoughts of doubt, fear, discouragement, worry, anxiety, insecurities, and worthlessness. He knows that if you are focused on these things you won’t step into your God-given identity or lean on trusting Him, two things that are necessary for God’s purpose for you to unfold in your life.

Not only that, Satan will try to twist what God has said to trick you into going against Him. Take a look at what he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:1-5 (go ahead and read it…I’ll wait).

Scheme of the Devil #5 – He Brings Down Relationships

God’s word says that “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Prov. 27:17, NIV).” Satan knows that relationships and community are keys to becoming strong in the faith, so he tries to destroy them by causing dissension and disunity. Family relationships are especially under fire these days.

Be on the lookout for things like anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. These are some things that Satan uses to destroy relationships.

Now that we’ve answered the question “what are the wiles of the devil?” we can get to the good stuff!

Overcoming Satan’s Schemes

If you stopped reading now, what a hopeless feeling you would have! But, oh, there is good news! Not just good news, Great News!! We all know the ‘steal, kill and destroy’ idea of Satan, but that is not the whole verse! Listen to this!

“The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

John 10:10

The second part of the verse is much more hopeful! Jesus came to give us abundant life!

Furthermore, the second part of 1 John 3:8 says the “reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

Satan might be trying to destroy us, but Jesus came to destroy him! And we know that through Jesus, we, too, will be victorious over Satan’s schemes, no matter how crafty and cunning he tries to be.

I certainly want to live life to the full, and be victorious over the schemes of the devil, don’t you? So how do we pose a counterattack to the devil’s plan to steal, kill, and destroy?

Schemes of the Devil Counterattack #1 – Scripture

Remember when Satan tempted Jesus (even using scripture to do it) in the wilderness? Well, Jesus…remember, he was full of the Spirit… quoted scripture right back at Satan. Satan, not liking the word of God and knowing he wasn’t going to win this battle, eventually fled.

If we want to live victoriously, we need to follow the example of Jesus, using scripture to fight his lies and temptations!

Schemes of the Devil Counterattack #2: Put on the Armor of God

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal, taking up the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverence and supplication for all the saints…”

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ASV)

Wow! From this famous “schemes of the devil” verse, we learn several important things. Yes, Satan is real. But more importantly, we learn that we have been given what we need to fight him and come out still standing!

For more on how exactly to put on the armor of God, check out “The Armor of God.”

Schemes of the Devil Counterattack #3: Know the Truth

2 Corinthians 11:14 enlightens us about Satan’s deception when Paul tells us “…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” How then do we know what is the light of God versus Satan’s disguise? How do we not become overwhelmed at the prospect of battling and overcoming Satan? This is certainly an area that I struggled with because I over-exaggerated Satan’s power over my weakness and fear. What if I wasn’t strong enough and failed? What then? Satan again…he put those thoughts in my head.

We can only recognize the lies of the enemy if we know the truth.

Is it a coincidence that the very first piece of armor that Paul tells us to put on is the belt of truth? No! We are instructed to gird our loins with this belt, and in order to do this, we have to know the truth. Not just a little truth, but fully know the truth. And what is the truth?

Truth is fact…it is reality. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Our Jesus is fact. He is reality. And He is bigger and more powerful than any scheme Satan throws at us.

Furthermore, Jesus tells us in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” There’s proof that the truth will set us free from the bondage of sin and Satan.

When our precious Jesus died on that cross, death was defeated. Satan was defeated. And we as believers must gird ourselves with this truth. – Debbie Danner, Catching Courage Share on X

Simply saying to Satan, “Jesus defeated you when He died and rose again for me, so you have no power here!” is enough to send the enemy running! But you can always search God’s word for specific truths that fight specific lies Satan tells you and pray for God to reveal His truth to you.

Schemes of the Devil Counterattack #4 – Stir Up the Spirit

We are to be filled with the Spirit of God…regularly, continually, like Jesus was in the wilderness. If we are to be like Jesus in this life, we must know who we are in Christ!

We are His children, chosen, redeemed, forgiven, precious, cherished by God. This is how we put on that breastplate of righteousness!

Get to know who He is by spending time reading His word…letting it soak into the very core of our being, having it constantly on our minds and tongues…that is your sword of the Spirit!  

Schemes of the Devil Counterattack #5: Do Something!

Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites had to go to war against the enemy. Sometimes they were defeated, but sometimes they were miraculously victorious.

My favorite battle is in 2 Chronicles 20. What an uplifting chapter! I hope you read the whole encounter!! Basically, several countries were coming to battle against King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. When the king got this information, he was naturally alarmed. But he was solid in his faith and “resolved” immediately to turn to God in prayer and instructed the people to fast, pray, and worship.

The word of the Lord came to one of the prophets who said (vs. 15) “…This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Then (vs. 17) “…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your position, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.”

Friends…this is so encouraging to me! We will not have to fight this battle!! We do not have to be afraid or discouraged!!! But we are instructed to do something.

“Take up your position, stand firm, and see.” That’s what God told the Israelites. That’s what God is telling us. 

Also, James 4:7 tells us to “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

So when Satan attacks, another thing you can do is resist him and focus on God. Pray for strength. Worship. Tell him to leave in Jesus’ name. Fast. Quote scripture at him. Tell a friend about your struggle. Worship.

The Schemes of the Devil Will Not Prevail!

Please don’t be alarmed! This is meant to inform you and encourage you, not to scare you! Because friend, with all you are learning, the victory is yours in Christ, and that devil will flee! Put on that worship music, and sing at the top of your lungs!

How I pray for each of you that as you dress each day that you add the suit of armor to your wardrobe, so that you don’t have to be like I was, cowering under the covers in fear. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Satan does not want you to flee, he does not want you to fight, and he does not want you to deepen your relationship with the Lord. He wants you silenced and inactive and paralyzed. So keep in mind as you put into practice what God’s word tells us about Satan and the armor of God that the devil will bring on his wiles in different ways and more frequently to keep you guessing and to wear you out.

But don’t worry! God’s got you! Psalms 18:28 says, “You, Lord keep my lamp burning bright; my God turns my darkness into light.” And Colossians 1:13 tells us, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, this may seem like foolishness and that it doesn’t pertain to you. But John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 1:12 tells us, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” A simple prayer will change your life and eternity. Faith alone in Christ alone. Let today be the day!

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