The word "hacked" has become part of our vocabulary due to computers. The definition of hacked is as follows:
Hacking (English verb to hack, singular noun a hack) refers to the re-configuring or re-programming of a system to function in ways not facilitated by the owner, administrator, or designer. - Wikipedia
This week, I was hacked on Facebook. Since I like to use my own experiences to write about, I am going to capitalize on this inconvenience. Apparently, someone gained access to my Facebook page and sent all of my Facebook Friends a message regarding a diet pill that I apparently saw on Oprah. I was mortified at first, but then turned it into a selling pitch for Girl Scout Cookies!
I was comforted to know that my close friends saw right through this pitch and did not take it to heart. Weight is a sensitive subject, and the last thing I would ever do is send someone information suggesting that they need to lose weight.
This experience, coupled with a really good devotion from Stormie Omartain's book "The Power of Praying Through the Bible" made me see how this really is a life lesson. When I noticed that someone had been posing as me, it was after a day of blessings from God as I pulled off a PTA Reception for 300 people regarding an art program. I was kind of riding high on success when I was brought down in a hurry by the realization that Satan sneaked in a back door via the Internet.
Satan is the master at sneaking around and trying to pose as something legitimate, when in fact he will bring you down in a second for his own gain. Satan will use any kind of weakness or breakdown in security to sneak in and attack. What is the only anti-virus security that can keep Satan away? The Word of God is the armor you need.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground... Ephesians 6:10
The moment we become believers, Satan wants to wage a war against us. He will use family squabbles, money, discouragement, and a great host of temptations to discourage us so that it will discredit our belief in Christ. We can't ever forget that Satan is the ultimate enemy and that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but the powers of the dark.
God's Word tells us how to protect ourselves from being "hacked" by Satan. The first thing God tells us, through his Word, is that we are not strong enough to battle Satan on our own. Paul tells us in Ephesians the specific pieces of armor we must use to fight Satan's lies.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The most important weapon we have is prayer! Prayer gives us strength against the enemy, and reveals any weaknesses we might have where the evil one can get a foot in the door. Pray that God will reveal to you those areas in your life that need to be changed. Satan wants to keep us from the fullness of God, but we can thwart his plans with prayer, praise, and the Word of God.
The devil cannot stand against God's powerful anti-virus weapons!
Blessings,
Sandy
