Satan’s Attack on Married Men

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

James 4:7

It’s a covenant set forth by God himself, which is also the method He used to build His relationship with mankind. When put in those terms, it’s hard to fathom the significance that marriage plays in God’s master plan.

So it’s only natural that Satan would want to destroy it.

This may not be politically correct but in marriage, God has called men to be the heads of their households. Like any good military strategist looking to take out a target, Satan knows that if the head falls, so will the body. As a result, husbands are often the target of the enemy’s manipulative lies geared towards driving spouses and families apart.

These attacks frequently come in three common forms: doubt, apathy, and lust.

Doubt

Men pretend to have it all figured out but deep down, we’re not so sure. Satan knows this and uses it to his advantage. He tells us lies that cause us to doubt ourselves and our ability to lead. He plants seeds of doubt when it comes to loving deeply and with vulnerability. And he makes us question if we’re even fit to be a husband. These lies can lead men to withdraw and pull away from those who love them most.

Wives, remember to encourage your husbands; not just in the big things, but the everyday small things, too. And men, we must continually place our trust in God and the promises He’s made to us. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “but blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Be confident in the Lord and know that in this world, we are like Jesus (1 John 4:17).

Apathy

Over time, we can become apathetic to relational or spiritual growth in the home. This is when Satan lulls men to sleep with the status quo until we no longer have the spiritual wherewithal needed to effectively wage war against the devil’s attacks.

Remember, God has a purpose and plan for you, your spouse, and your marriage. But in order for that to be revealed, we have to stay alert to Satan’s ways and take full advantage of the time we’ve been given (Ephesians 5:15–17).

Lust

The truth is that lust is never satisfied. In fact, the more we give in to it, the more we want. And the more we want, the less we want God and what He has planned for us.

The reality of our mortal life on Earth is that we’ll never be fully satisfied until we get to Heaven. Until then, we should take comfort in the fact that God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure. But when we are tempted, God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit will provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).

A war is raging for the sanctity of marriage and men are on the front lines every day. Arm them with encouragement, but most importantly, your prayers. With God’s power and protection, Satan doesn’t stand a chance (Ephesians 6:10–20).

Are you willing to draw upon the full power and strength of God by praying together as a couple? Try it today!

Today’s author: Mark Henderson—Founder of The Inspired Legacy

Mark is a creative professional with more than 20 years experience in the fields of web design and advertising. He also serves as the chief content officer at The Inspired Legacy, an online ministry dedicated to shining a light on God’s gift of parenthood. The organization aims to inspire and equip fathers to boldly lead their families, love their kids unconditionally, and leave a legacy of grown children that carry on these same traditions. Mark resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with his wife, Kimberly. Together, they have three children, two girls, and one boy.