Know Your Enemy: The Devil Is in the Details

Before we talk armor, let’s talk war.

Author

Jennifer Paulino
April 21, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

This Week’s Form Check Focus

The Resistance is Real, but the Armor is Stronger!

This week, we’re not just showing up—we’re suiting up. Today’s devotional will set the stage for the next few weeks. It exposes the enemy for who he really is, not who culture paints him to be.

From there, we tighten our core with the belt of truth, guard our testimonies with righteousness, and plant our feet in peace as the days go by. We’ll pick up the shield of faith, cover our mind with salvation, and finish with the strongest weapon we’ve been given to strike back—The Sword of the Spirit(God’s Word).

This isn’t self-help… it’s soul defense.

❝

The Armor of God

10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12  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. 13  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19  Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20  for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
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Ephesians 6:10-20
The Briefing

You can’t defend yourself if you don’t know who—or what—you’re up against.

This ain’t about bad vibes or bad energy. It’s about a real enemy who plays for keeps. Satan isn’t loud and obvious—he’s calculated. Strategic. He’s been studying you, and he knows your patterns. You ever wonder why the same battles keep finding you, just wearing different clothes? Yeah. That’s him.

Ephesians 6:12 breaks it down: we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities in the heavenly realms. The Greek word for heavenly realms is epouranios, it’s deep—it’s not just some poetic way of saying “up there.” It refers to the invisible, spiritual realm that directly impacts what happens down here. So if your life feels heavy or chaotic, it might be because you’re trying to fight a spiritual war with natural tools.

Let me say it plain: You are not crazy. You are not weak. You are not behind.


You’re in a battle, and the enemy is hoping you’ll forget you’re a well equipped soldier.

Is Satan a Taboo?

Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: the enemy doesn’t just want your peace—he wants your testimony.


See, the burden of testimony is governed by how well you steward your walk. Are the fruits of your life pointing people to God’s goodness and truth? Or are they—lowkey—opening the door to confusion, compromise, and watered-down gospel?

We carry a weight as believers, pero it’s not one we’re supposed to carry alone. It’s a burden held in community, wrapped in grace, covered in God’s armor. Testimony isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real, grateful, and grounded. Let your life be impeccable in essence. Essence meaning the “intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character”.

I recently asked my friends this question I saw on a TikTok “If your life was put on a movie screen and played with no sound, what would it say about you?”

Mute the excuses, tell the truth with your actions – even when the story is messy.

❝

Silent films still tell stories—make sure yours reflects heaven.

TODAY’S FORM CHECK

Training Lesson: What does your posture tell your enemy?

What do your actions say about you? Are you ready to fight this battle?

Start with Galatians 5:22–23—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. These aren’t just cute traits. They’re fruit. And fruit tells the truth about the root.

Then go sit with Mark 5:21–24. Jairus wasn’t just asking Jesus for a miracle—he was putting his position aside to plead. That Greek word used for pleading in verse 23, parakaleó, means to call someone close, to urge, to invite help. Jesus responds with presence before he responds with power.

What can sitting in the presence of the Lord do for you? How can it change your position or prepare you for what’s next?

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Feeling the Pressure Yet? Here’s our encouragement:

When we come to Christ we have a burden that should be carried with the utmost elegance and grace. It’s not a burden to be carried alone but rather with a community of responsible believers.

If you’re locking in, bring someone with you! 

Forward this. Share the link. Invite them into the tension—into the place where waiting for God becomes training with Him. We carry light, but we carry well. Let’s build this together.

❝

You’re not broken. You’re not too late. You’re being conditioned by the call.

And pressure? That’s just a setup for power.

Spiritual Supplements

Conditioning Recommendations

▶ Worship Song: Surrounded (Fight My Battles) by Michael W. Smith

▶ Podcast on repeat: In Totality by Megan Ashley

More about Jennifer

Life doesn’t suck,

You just don’t know how to enjoy the ride!
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Off Roading In Joshua Tree

I don’t write from a stage—I write from the trenches.

Sharing my intimacy with God isn’t easy, but I know it’s necessary. I’ve been blessed to experience God’s love and wisdom from such a young age and feel a strong duty to share it with those who want to experience it as deeply as I have.

My hope is that every word pushes you to do the hard thing and fight a little harder each day. I’m a Dominican-born, American-raised woman who loves learning about history, psychology, and the science behind how we’re wired.

You’ll hear me say things like It Builds Character, Remember who you are, and Life is a rollercoaster, enjoy the ride—because that’s how I live.

And if you’re here, I got you my love! You’re not waiting in vain or alone.

You’re conditioning for something greater and I’m right there with you!

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