Defending Yourself Against the Wiles of the Devil

• How can I defend myself against “the wiles of the devil”?

We can be spiritually shielded against “the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The Psalms tell us that the Lord is a shield:

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)

Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:2-4)

The apostle Paul called this spiritual shielding “the armor of God” in Ephesians 6:

10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The Lord revealed a key to Joseph Smith on how we can be spiritually shielded and armored against the devil – “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” (D&C 10:5). One way to “put on the whole armor of God” is to ask God in prayer to shield you and put the armor of God on you so that you will not be subject to “the wiles of the devil”. The prophet Mormon provides another key, which is to receive and follow the word of God – “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—” (Helaman 3:29).

Another key is provided by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:

3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We can “cast down” or cast out the “imaginations” (false revelation) and every high thing (evil and unclean spirits). In D&C 84 we read that anyone who believes, is baptized, and receives the Holy Ghost has power to cast out devils:

64) Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost.

65) And these signs shall follow them that believe—

66) In my name they shall do many wonderful works;

67) In my name they shall cast out devils;

See also Mark 16:14-17, Mormon 9:21-25, and D&C 124:98.

We can also ask the Lord to cast evil spirits away from us, because an angel told king Benjamin that part of Jesus’ messianic mission is to “cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.” (Mosiah 3:6).

In practice, when you set aside some time and space and get into a quiet state of mind to intentionally be open to and receive revelation, you can first ask God in prayer to cast all evil spirits away or command them yourself to depart and then ask God be a shield and put spiritual armor on you so that you will be protected against any attempts of evil spirits to send you deceptive revelation.