From the moment goodness first collided with evil, this has been the unchanging truth of spiritual warfare: Satan hinders us.

From every direction, at every point along the battlefield, in the front lines and the rear guard, at sunrise and in the darkest hour of night—Satan hinders us. When we work the field, he tries to break our tools. When we build the wall, he labors to tear down the stones. Whether we serve God in suffering or in conflict, everywhere, Satan hinders us.

He hindered you when you first came stumbling toward Jesus Christ. What fierce battles we fought with Satan when we first looked at the cross and found life! And now that we are saved? He works to sabotage the development of our character.

You might be thinking, "Well, I've walked pretty consistently with God. Nobody can question my integrity." Beware of boasting! Your pride will be your downfall, because Satan will aim his artillery at the very virtue you're most proud of. Have you been rock-solid in your faith? Expect it to be shaken. Have you been gentle as Moses? Get ready to be provoked into saying something foolish. The birds always peck at the ripest fruit. The wild boar charges at the best vines.

And when we get serious about prayer? Satan is sure to hinder us. He interrupts our persistence and undermines our faith, hoping we'll give up before the blessing comes.

Nor is he any less vigilant in blocking Christian work. There has never been a spiritual revival without a revival of Satan's opposition. The moment Ezra and Nehemiah picked up their tools to rebuild, Sanballat and Tobiah showed up to stop them.

So what do we do? We refuse to be rattled when Satan opposes us. Why? Because his opposition proves we're on the Lord's side, doing the Lord's work. And in the Lord's strength, we will win this war. We will triumph over our enemy.