Satan’s Top Ten Tactics

One of the most common ways Satan gets us is by subtle deceit. He carefully strings us along until he has us bound in ways that are difficult to escape. His lies are wrapped in half-truths and eventually we believe that they are truth. It’s all very conniving and clever. Satan is smart.

As I was reading in 2 Nephi 28, I discovered that it mentions ten specific tactics that Satan uses all the time. Don’t let yourself fall for these cunning cons.

There are no miracles today.

“For this day he is not a God of miracles; he has done his work,” -verse 6. Satan wants us to believe that miracles ceased with the death of the apostles, but in reality, miracles have not ceased. God performs miracles to those who have strong faith and a firm mind.

Have fun now, repent later.

“Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” -verse 7. It can be very easy to believe this, especially when we don’t always see immediate consequences for our decisions. This life is a time to prepare to meet God. What we do now counts – even if we can’t see either the benefit or the harm.

Everybody’s doing it.

In verse 7 and 8, Satan wants us to believe that we are missing out if we don’t follow what is currently popular. But, just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it okay.

You can serve God and man at the same time.

“Nevertheless, fear God,” -verse 8. This is an excellent example of a half-truth. Satan is telling us to fear God after he says that we should fear men first. Nobody can serve two masters.

A little sin isn’t serious.

“[God] will justify in committing a little sin,” -verse 8. No unclean thing can dwell with God. No sin is excusable, but this is why repentance is such an important – and critical –  principle of the gospel.

God will make an exception with you.

“God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved,” -verse 8. The Lord is merciful, but if we have this kind of attitude, we will be judged for it. The kingdom of God is not filthy.

You can hide your sins from God.

“There shall be many which shall…seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord,” -verse 9. God created us and knows us intimately. He loves us unconditionally, but He knows all of our works, thoughts, and intent.

You don’t need to change or repent.

“Others will he pacify, and lull them into carnal security,” -verse 21. This is one of Satan’s greatest tricks. He wants us to feel that all is well in Zion. A feeling of content often masks the fact that we aren’t progressing. We should constantly be working on strengthening our relationship with the Lord.

There is no hell.

“Others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell,” -verse 22. Alma the younger felt that hell. He was racked with guilt and torment that the thought of being in the presence of God filled him with inexpressible horror.

There is no devil.

“He whispereth in their ears…’I am no devil, for there is none,'” -verse 22. We know that not only is there a devil, but he was our brother; an angel who was in authority in the presence of God. We wept over his fall, but we are not subject to his power.

We often don’t even notice these lies until it’s too late. Actually, that’s another lie. It’s never too late. If we find ourselves caught up in any of these lies, we can repent. We can pray for strength and for the ability to recognize when we have any of these thoughts. It may be something we need to work on every single day, but that’s okay. Repentance shouldn’t be about torture, but about the joy that forgiveness can bring.