Spiritual Warfare: 'Discerning Human Desires from Spiritual Promptings'

God's Power for Our Battles — Saturday, August 15, 2026

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel — from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north — and bring me a report so I may know how many there are. … God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it.
— 1 Chronicles 21:1-2,7 NLT

Today's Prayer

Lord, I know David was a man after Your own heart, yet he acted in this instance on a prompting from Satan. Please don’t let me fall into this kind of trap, mistaking Satan’s urges for Your Spirit’s promptings. Help me to hear Your voice and know it’s You. Help me to know which path to take each and every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of 1 Chronicles 21:1-2,7 NLT — Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel — from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north — and bring me a report so I may know how many there are. … God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it.

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About This Devotional

Spiritual Warfare is a daily devotional about God's power for our battles.

The Prayer for Spiritual Warfare is written by Steve Hemphill.

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