Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44 (KJV)

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the religious hypocrites, but it also tells us how the devil operates. The devil talks trash. If you’ve never heard of trash talking, think of two basketball players or football players competing against each other and getting obnoxious with each other. They say things to each intended to irritate and aggravate, trying to get in each other’s head and wreck their concentration. If they can get their opponent’s emotions stirred up, they can get them off their game. That’s how the devil works.

If the enemy can get in our heads, he can get us off our game. It is important that we stay focused on the Lord and on the Word of His promise. If we start buying the lies of the enemy, he can beat us. The key is to recognize the devil’s taunts for what they are- lies. And when we recognize them, we need to call him out and do some trash talking of our own. We need to tell him that we aren’t falling for his lies, that he has already been beaten, and his days are numbered. And laugh at him- he hates to be laughed at because he is a prideful being.

We don’t have to be influenced by the trash-talking nonsense of the devil. His threats are empty, his end is drawing near, and the victory is ours. Hallelujah!