The Life Of David / Standing Firm Against The Enemy | Pastor Nate Keeler
You’ve been lied to. Probably today. That voice in your head telling you that you’ll always struggle, that you’re not enough, that your failures define you—it’s familiar. But it’s not the truth. And most of us don’t even realize we’ve been lied to until we’ve already made decisions based on it. That’s the enemy’s game: disguise the lie so well that we accept it as truth without question.
That’s why learning to spot a lie before it wrecks you isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Your peace, your clarity, and your relationships may all depend on your ability to tell the difference.
Lies Come Dressed As Logic
In Ephesians 6:14, Paul writes, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” This belt holds everything together—it’s foundational. But it’s not just any truth—it’s God’s truth. The unchanging, unshakable truth found in His Word.
Most of us spend our days listening to our thoughts without questioning where they come from. We forget there’s a spiritual battle happening every single day, and the primary weapon used against us? Deception.
Paul continues in verse 17, calling the Word of God “the sword of the Spirit.” The sword is both defensive and offensive. You use it to deflect and to strike. But it only works if you know how to use it. That means knowing Scripture—not just reading it occasionally or hearing it on Sunday—but internalizing it.
Here’s why this matters: the lies we believe don’t always sound evil. They sound reasonable. Justified. Sometimes, they even sound holy.
Ever thought, “I can’t ask for help—it would be selfish”? Or, “God’s probably disappointed in me anyway”? These aren’t just thoughts. They’re spiritual attacks. Subtle lies disguised as half-truths that keep you distant from the God who’s actually inviting you closer.
If you want to stop being deceived, you have to be familiar enough with the truth to instantly recognize when something doesn’t match.
A Game of Truth
To bring this idea home, I brought my son, Aiden, on stage for a little game of “Two Truths and a Lie.” I gave him three statements about my life—two true, one false—and asked him to pick the lie.
He nailed it.
Why? Because he knows me. He knows how I think. He’s been around me enough to distinguish fact from fiction.
That’s the same way we learn to recognize the enemy’s voice versus God’s. You don’t have to spend your life studying every possible lie—just get really familiar with the truth.
The more time you spend in Scripture, the more natural it becomes to identify what doesn’t belong. Lies lose their power when they’re exposed to truth.
Get Equipped: Train Your Mind
Here’s where the real transformation begins. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” You don’t just try harder to be good—you change how you think. You retrain your mental pathways to reflect what’s actually true instead of what you’ve assumed.
This is where fighter verses come in.
Fighter verses are passages of Scripture you memorize specifically to fight back against lies. They’re not general feel-good quotes. They’re weapons. Targeted. Personal. They speak directly to your most frequent battles.
Here are some of mine:
- When I’m tempted by lust or anger:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful…”
— 1 Corinthians 10:13
That reminds me I’m not uniquely broken—and that God always provides a way out. - When I feel like giving up:
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”
— Hebrews 12:1–2
It helps me remember I’m not running alone, and the finish line is worth it. - When fear paralyzes me:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
That’s my reset. My courage verse.
I didn’t just choose these at random. I chose them based on where I’m weak. Where I tend to spiral. And I don’t just keep them in a drawer. I put them in visible places—my bathroom mirror, car dashboard, phone lock screen—because I want to see them when I’m vulnerable.
And here’s something important: memorization is not outdated. It’s powerful. In a moment of temptation or despair, the right verse can redirect your entire day.
Make It Practical
I want you to think right now: Where are you most tempted to believe lies?
Is it in your self-worth? Your identity? Your relationships? Your fears about the future?
Now go find truth to match those lies. Use Google. Use your Bible app. Use whatever tool gets you there. Search for “Bible verses about anxiety” or “Scriptures on worth” or “verses for perseverance.” Find them. Print them. Write them. And say them until they stick.
And yes, you can even laugh while doing this. I joked during the sermon about taping a verse to your spouse’s forehead mid-argument—but let’s keep the truth on the mirror instead. Unless you’re both into forehead declarations.
This Is How You Fight
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He didn’t argue. He didn’t explain. He quoted Scripture.
He said, “It is written.”
You don’t need to out-logic your fears or out-shout the enemy. You need truth. Truth that’s been stored in your heart and mind so deeply that it comes out when you’re pressed.
If you’re constantly tired, discouraged, or distracted, it might not be because you’re weak—it might be because you’re fighting unarmed.
Pick up your sword.
Memorize Scripture not just because it’s spiritual, but because it’s strategic. It’s how you reclaim your mental space. It’s how you resist the endless cycle of shame, fear, anger, and doubt.
Truth isn’t just something you believe—it’s something you use. And it only works if you know it well enough to wield it. This is how we fight. Not just to survive—but to live free.