There’s only one conversation that you can hold with the devil and win. He comes, not as a friend to chat, but as an adversary to conquer.

The more you listen, the better his chances. The more you argue, the less likely you’ll come out unscathed.

Because, let’s face it, Satan is smarter than we are. He has more experience. He’s been around the block more times. And he knows our weaknesses much better than we do.

So the only conversation to have with the devil is the short one that Jesus had, to cite Bible texts to him and tell him to go away.

Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'” Matthew 4:10 NET

After 40 days of required temptation, Jesus told the devil to go away. Matthew says that the devil left him. But only after our Lord disarmed his temptations three times with biblical citations.

So if you want to be free of the devil, do like Jesus. Know the Scriptures well, use them liberally when temptation comes, and put an end to the conversation.

–J. Randal Matheny