“The only way you can make peace is to win.” I overheard this remark by a retired U.S. military general on a news documentary. He was talking about the terrorist attack on the marine barracks in Beirut back in the 80’s. His contention was that you can’t negotiate with those who are dead set against you – you can only win over them so they can’t attack you again.

That does not sit well with those who want to be “reasonable” in every conflict and always hold out hope for a diplomatic solution. In the spiritual realm, I think the general is right on. You cannot negotiate with the enemy of your soul. Neither can you try to peacefully co-exist. It’s just not happening!

The devil is relentless when it comes to his evil intentions toward each one of us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) If you give him an inch he will always take a mile.

Sometimes he sneaks in so stealthily we hardly notice. There he is over on a shelf in our life, acting like he’s not going to make any bigtrouble at all. Oh well, since he’s not bothering anything, why not let him just sit there? Don’t do it. He wants to devour you and he won’t be gentle or “reasonable” about it if he gets the chance.

Do you want to have peace in your life? Soundly defeat him. The only real peace is by winning.