“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” —John 19:10 NLT

As a little girl, I remember our home being burgled one night. We were all fast asleep and it was pouring with rain. The burglars went through the trouble of breaking one of the back windows of the living room and wormed their way in through there. Not much sound could be heard over the pounding of the heavy rain, but my dad (whose room was closer to the side of the window they entered through) heard a noise and decided to check it out.

When he got to the living room, he could just about make out the form of a man through the darkness, climbing through the window to escape and as he rushed forward the man unfortunately ran off into a waiting van and drove off. Although their mission was interrupted, the burglars managed to escape with the television. These men, however many they were, had a mission, and that mission was to take away from our home as much as they could. Just as every robber or burglar goes to where they can profit, so the devil comes because of what he perceives he can get out of you.

In the bible verse above, it says the devil’s mission/purpose is to steal. This says something when you are attacked by the devil. It lets you know that you are in possession of some type of treasure, and the devil wants it.

The first mistake you can make is underestimating your value. You are so valuable. The enemy wants to steal from you, steal your value: God’s treasure in you.

“We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours. [8] Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times, we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.” — 2 Corinthians 4:7-8 TPT

You may feel like a common clay jar but never underestimate the treasure within you. All of God’s riches are deposited in you when you receive His offer of salvation. Riches, which, when properly utilised, produce power to change your life, and that is what the enemy is after. So, he attacks your home, your marriage, your business, your health, your wealth (the list goes on…) with the intent of destroying what is within you but it is your responsibility to resist him.

“So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him, and he will flee in agony.” —James 4:7 TPT

You have the power to resist the devil by submitting to God. A life submitted to God is one that does not fall prey to the wiles of Satan. So when the pressures come, as it most certainly will, submitting to God is the answer.

Walking with God is like walking against the tide by the world’s standard, so that inevitably produces pressure; pressure to compromise in all sorts of ways. However, you must stand your ground by standing on the truth, and you will not be crushed. In the journey of life, you should not be the one giving in—no matter the pressure.
Second Corinthians says that even when we don’t know what to do, giving up is not an option. As the saying goes: you have never really failed until you have given up, so don’t give up no matter the number of times you’ve gotten it wrong; it just means you haven’t found the right way yet.

Keep trying. Change your method if you have to, but don’t throw in the towel.

As the verse in John 10 says: Jesus came for this purpose, to give us life and life in abundance. So, rather than focusing on the devil and what he is doing, look at what Christ has made available for you and I.

We have life, and this life means abundance in every good thing.

Let us focus on that so we can walk in that!