Scarred

When you invited Jesus to be Lord of your life, Satan no longer had authority over you. But, because he no longer owned you, he targeted you. He wants to steal from you everything of importance; he wants to destroy you: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Though strong and wants to hurt you, he cannot overtake God dwelling within you. According to Ephesians 6:16, the devil shoots darts at you, darts loaded with poison that inflict pain; fiery ones that can wound and leave branding scars. These scars are reminders that your shield—your faith in God, your confidence in Him, your reliance on the truth of His Word that protects you—was not correctly in place.

Why is the adversary’s branding critical? It’s a mark of ownership. He knows he no longer owns you but wants you to bear a lasting symbol of his handiwork. After falling into temptations’ traps, causing pain, regret, and embarrassment, he reminds you of his successful devious works. Then, when you let fear, doubt, shame, or guilt settle in, he wants you to believe he has regained control of your life with an unstoppable and unbreakable foothold. But remember, Satan is a liar and defeated foe. As God’s child, he cannot take ownership of you. When you cry out to your Father, He is always nearby; He doesn’t want your mind held captive by the enemy’s ugly reminders of past failures. Life’s scars may be visible but let them only be reminders of when God showed up mightily and scattered the enemy from you.

There is a distinguishing mark that believers in Christ should have. Every thought, word, and action should carry its brand: Love. Jesus said all people would know we belong to Him by our love for one another (John 13:35). Is your life stamped by God's love?