(a 5 minute read) Camden and Loretta were in the middle of an argument that focused on how people are entrenched in the blame game. Loretta remarked, “It is this new generation that is so focused on who to blame, and get distracted by the blame game instead of the issue!”

Camden tilted his head and as he pointed his finger at Loretta exclaimed, “Don’t pin it on the new generation. Remember, the 1^st blame game started with the 1^st generation ever; Eve, Adam & the serpent.”  Loretta almost fell off of her chair as she was laughing so hard, “You have a point there dear indeed you do.”

Camden’s eyes widened and said, “This blame is a tactic of distraction Loretta, and it is very effective. Hate is a very strong emotion and it can be harnessed by others to chart a path.”

Camden proceeded to explain it’s like we blame things on Satan. Satan is an angel, a fallen angel. An angel is basically a soldier that carries out duties; things we can hardly begin to understand. But Satan, although a fallen angel, still cannot do what Satan pleases; rather Satan can only do what God allows. But ‘man’, oh man, ‘I’ am definitely capable of doing what God does not allow.

Hope the following will resonate as how we, believers, think of Satan;

• Satan wants you and is coming after you
• Satan will use all methods to con and scam you
• Satan is the CEO of hell
• Satan and God are fighting over you
• You have a choice; Satan or God

These characterizations and many more will of course make me hate or at least want to hate Satan.

So what’s the big deal?

The big deal is; the ‘hate’ tactic ultimate goal is to pull you towards something, by hating the other, and to distract you from something else. Let’s look at pulling you towards something;

Divorce; if they hate their mom, they’ll love me more. Elections; I hate Trump therefore I gotta vote for Hillary or vice versa. Relationships; if I make him look like a jerk she’ll end up loving me.

Hope one of these examples resonate. More importantly hope you agree that if you hate something or someone, it really ends there. IT DOES NOT MEAN you’ll like, let alone love, the other any more or any less than you already do. Therefore, hating Satan does not mean that you’ll LOVE God more, as maybe some hope it would.

What about the distraction component?

Focusing on Satan is distracting away from ‘me’. It’s like saying it’s a ‘road kill’ as if no one killed it. ‘I’ am distracting away from ‘me’ and blaming it on Satan…….

• It is me that is getting in my own way
• It is me that comes up with a gazillion excuses to con myself into thinking/doing whatever
• I am the CEO of myself
• I am the one pulling myself away or disciplining myself to abide
• Indeed I HAVE A CHOICE, that’s what makes me human

Maybe it is time to recognize Satan as a weak force in the universe. Asking why and how Satan operates is a distraction, “for if God is with me then who can be against me”. Let Satan do what Satan is allowed to do. Remember, if God is the ocean then Satan is a micro-spit in the ocean.

Let’s stop demonizing Satan and the talk about fighting the devil and the thoughts/temptations that Satan presents to us. Such thoughts and temptations are arising from within. Never forget that we are a biological being with bodily demands like thirst or the joy of drinking; like hunger or the joy of eating; like the need for shelter or the joy of having; and sexuality…… that’s a whole different beast, and on and on.

Differentiate what we know about Satan and what we are told about Satan. Don’t be distracted by the ‘blame game’. Focus on ‘you’ and what you are capable of thinking/doing. Instead of fearing Satan, fear what ‘I’ am capable of choosing. Know your weaknesses and do not get distracted by hating Satan. Focus on the fact that Satan cannot do what God does not allow, but ‘I’ oh man, ‘I’ am definitely capable of doing what God does not allow…………………….. Let that simmer for a minute………. maybe for every minute of the rest of my life.

The more one admits and recognizes one’s weaknesses, day in and day out (exhausting, but well worth it) the more one can combat inner thoughts and inner ‘wants’ in all their shapes, and hopefully get better just an iota, just an iota. Thank you my God and my Father for giving me ‘choice’ and may I do all that’s in my might to direct it towards YOU. Amen.