“Do not give the devil a foothold…” (Ephesians 4:27).

The Greek word for foothold is topon. It comes from the Greek word meaning “place” or “space”. The Greek word topos literally means a location, a plot of space.

It is interesting that the Bible translators have been translating this word as “foothold.” The imagery is someone wanting to close the door but another person places their foot on the ground jamming the door. Even if the person who puts their foot on the ground jamming the door is a much smaller person, the door is effectively closed.

The question is, then, how do Christians give the devil a foothold? It begins with our thoughts. When we entertain thoughts that are ungodly, thoughts contrary to the truths of scripture, those very thoughts begin to shape our view of reality. And, soon, we begin believing lies so that we are no longer able to differentiate between truths and lies.

Elisabeth Elliot writes, “Spiritual strongholds begin with a thought. One thought becomes a consideration. A consideration develops into an attitude which leads to action. Action repeated becomes a habit, and a habit establishes a power base for the enemy. That is a stronghold.”

She’s right. Sinful strongholds all begin with sinful thoughts.

Do not give the devil a foothold. Snip it in the bud. You, and only you, are the only person who can control what your mind thinks about and dwells on. Start shaping your mind with the truths of scripture so that you can identify the lies of the devil.

Finally, when the FBI trains their agents to identify counterfeit bills, they don’t study counterfeit bills. They spend thousands of hours with the real bills. When they come to know the original well, they can see a counterfeit from a mile away.

Get to know the real thing. Get in God’s word.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, but and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:1-2).

I always knew diet mattered.

I always knew my three to four cheeseburgers and fries a week would catch up to me. Actually, it didn’t catch up to me. I was almost forty pounds more than what I currently weigh. I wasn’t exercising. I was stressed. I didn’t sleep enough. And then, I almost died. I had two heart attacks and survived to have a quadruple bypass when I was 38 years old.

I always knew what I ate mattered.

I changed my diet. Watched what I ate. Exercise more. Watch my levels of stress. And I am much healthier now.

But here’s the thing. Diet is not only about what we eat. It’s also about what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, what we allow ourselves to believe, the company we keep. Garbage in: garbage out. Healthy in: health is the result. God-honoring thoughts in: God-honoring life.

Of course, you already knew all this.

Be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

God invites you to start by digesting his word. Drink in his Spirit. Eat and be satisfied.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected the for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:7-10).

Perfect.
Flawless.
Sinless.
Omniscient.
Omnipotent.

Do these words describe you? There is not a single human being on planet earth that can claim these words for themselves. Would you agree?

What this means is that the nearer we get to God, the more we get to know who God is, the more God corrects, disciplines, and challenges us. You know why?

Remember those words at the top? Perfect, flawless, sinless, omniscient, omnipotent – all those words describe God. And because God loves us and desires that we become more like God the more we know God, God will correct, discipline, and challenge us to change and grow.

So, be really careful if your god never disagrees with you. That’s a real problem. Because, at that point, you don’t believe in God, you believe in a figment of your own creation. And if that’s who your god is, that’s a scary world for everyone else.

God loves you. That’s why God corrects, disciplines, and challenges you.

Thank God for Godly discipline and correction!