Satan, There's No Room for You

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Growing up, I often heard my mother say, "If you let Satan ride, he'll want to drive." As a child, I did not fully understand what she meant, but the older I became, and the more I studied God's Word, the more I realized the wisdom behind that simple statement.

Mama was talking about the controlling nature of our enemy, Satan. He is never satisfied with a small place in our lives. Give him an inch, and he will try to take a mile. Allow him a seat as a passenger, and before long, he will be reaching for the steering wheel.

That was Satan's problem in heaven. He was not content with the position God had given him. Though he held a place of honor among the angels, pride entered his heart. He desired God's throne instead of God's assignment. His ambition led to rebellion, and rebellion led to his fall. Cast out of heaven, he now seeks to draw others away from the God he once served.

Jesus described Satan as a thief who comes "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10). The Bible also calls him a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). His methods have not changed. He still whispers doubts, plants seeds of disobedience, and appeals to our pride and fleshly desires.

We see this clearly in the Garden of Eden. Satan approached Eve with a question that caused her to doubt God's Word. Instead of immediately rejecting his lies, she entertained the conversation. She allowed him to ride in her mind. The longer she listened, the more appealing his deception became. Before long, she desired what God had forbidden and reached for what God had withheld. Her disobedience affected not only her life but also Adam's, and sin entered the world, impacting every generation that followed.

The lesson is clear: temptation often begins with a thought. Satan does not usually start by demanding complete control. He begins with a suggestion, a compromise, a doubt, or a distraction. But if we continue to entertain his voice, he will attempt to take control of our thoughts, our decisions, and ultimately our lives.

As believers, we must learn to recognize the enemy's tactics and refuse to give him room. The Bible instructs us to "submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Notice that we are not told to negotiate with him, entertain him, or reason with him. We are commanded to resist him.

Whenever temptation comes knocking at the door of your heart, make your position clear: "Satan, there's no room for you here. My mind belongs to Christ. My heart belongs to God. My life is under the direction of the Holy Spirit."

Don't let him ride, because if you do, he'll want to drive. Instead, keep Jesus in the driver's seat and tell the enemy, once and for all, "Satan, there's no room for you."


Elder Shirley Freeman