Isolating and Demoralizing

"The master conqueror frustrated his enemy's plans and broke up his alliances. He created cleavages between sovereign and minister, superiors and inferiors, commanders and subordinates.  His spies and agents were active everywhere, gathering information, sowing dissension, and nurturing subversion. The enemy was isolated and demoralized; his will to resist broken. Thus without battle his army was conquered, his cities taken and his state overthrown."  - Samuel B Griffith summarizing Sun Tzu's strategic approach

Here we see the strategy of isolation and demoralization at work.  It is as old as history. In Genesis 3:1 the serpent in the garden employed this strategy on Eve, getting her to doubt what God said and His intentions. 

Distrust: Satan wants us to doubt that God can love us in our sin, or that we aren't saved (Satan's Lies), the object of this attack is to create distrust and alienation from God.  

Isolation: Satan knows that a believer who is isolated is vulnerable. Fellowship with God and other believers is vital in our christian walk.  If we are immobilized by fear and shame of our sin then the natural reaction is to pull away from other believers.  We stop reading the Word, prayer is often feels pointless, and we believe that we will be scorned and rejected if we reveal our secrets to anyone. 

Demoralization: Once a believer is isolated the war on the mind starts. It can be a constant record of accusations replaying in our heads: "You are worthless, you are going to hell, you are going to disappoint your loved ones, lose your job, lose your family.  God could never love someone like you." Satan knows that a demoralized person's will to resist is broken. 

The counter-strategy is straightforward: Trust, Seek and Repent.  

Trust: trust in God promises (God's Promises), in His power and Goodness.  

Seek: Seek the Lord, cry out to Him, be honest about your sin and struggles, be persistent, fast and pray until He answers you. (Seek Ye First) Seek help from others, confess your sin to someone and ask for help.

Repent: True repentance (Genuine Repentance) brings changes in our thinking, in our environment, and in our actions. Restoration is only possible when sin has been put to death and the conscience cleaned.