Every sin doesn’t need a demon. Sometimes it just needs a mirror.
We love a good scapegoat. Ever since Eden, it’s been our favorite pastime. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. And ever since, we’ve been outsourcing our guilt like it’s a bad habit we caught from someone else.
But today, the go-to excuse among many Christians sounds something like this:
“The devil has really been attacking me.”
Translation? “I made a foolish decision and don’t want to own it.”
Now don’t get me wrong—Satan is real. Temptation is real. Spiritual warfare is real. But you know what else is real? Your own sinful heart.
Let’s not forget what Scripture says:
“Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15)
Notice James doesn’t even mention Satan here. Not once. Why? Because he’s busy diagnosing the real problem: us. Our desire. Our choices. Our disobedience.
But it’s easier to say, “The enemy is after me,” than to say, “I chose what God told me to flee.”
So let’s talk about it.
I. Not Every Sin Is Spiritual Warfare
We’ve got this trend going around where every bad thing is suddenly a spiritual attack. Can’t pay the bills? Must be the devil. Lost your job? The enemy is moving. Can’t stop gossiping? Satan must be in your group text.
No.
Sometimes you lost your job because you were lazy. Sometimes the bills aren’t paid because you mismanaged your money. And sometimes your gossip problem is just your own sinful tongue refusing to die to self.
God doesn’t call us to blame demons. He calls us to repent.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Confession doesn’t start with looking for a devil under every inconvenience. It starts with looking inward, into that rebellious heart of ours, and acknowledging the pride that refuses to be corrected.
II. Satan Didn’t Make You Do It
This might sting, but let it:
Satan has never made you sin. Not once.
He may tempt. He may deceive. He may whisper. But he cannot override your will. He didn’t make you lie. He didn’t make you click that website. He didn’t make you blow up in anger. You did that.
And let’s be honest—most of us don’t need a demon to derail our holiness. We do a great job of that all on our own.
As Jeremiah 17:9 puts it:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Blaming the devil is our modern way of dodging accountability. It’s not much different than a child saying, “The dog ate my homework.”
Except in our case, it’s, “The devil hijacked my holiness.”
We need to stop giving Satan credit for sins that are 100% homegrown.
III. Spiritual Warfare is Real, But It’s Not an Excuse
Yes, spiritual warfare exists. Paul says:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness…” (Ephesians 6:12)
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He goes on to tell us to put on the full armor of God.
Not call our friend and say, “Girl, the devil is really working overtime.”
Spiritual warfare doesn’t excuse us from obedience. It demands more of it. The presence of the enemy doesn’t cancel our responsibility—it intensifies our need for the Word, prayer, faith, and endurance.
Warfare is real. So is personal responsibility. Don’t use one to get out of the other.
IV. Repentance > Blame
You want freedom? You want healing? You want to be more than a walking excuse machine for every sinful pattern in your life?
Repent.
The beauty of the gospel is that you don’t have to stay stuck in blame. You don’t have to keep faking it through spiritual lingo. You can confess. You can come clean. You can be forgiven.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
It’s not brave to blame Satan. It’s brave to admit you sinned.
It’s not humble to say “I’m under attack.” It’s humble to say “I disobeyed God and need grace.”
Let the devil be who he is—a liar. But don’t let him be your excuse.
V. Final Word: The Devil’s a Liar, But So Is Your Flesh
Yes, the devil roams like a lion (1 Peter 5:8). But some of us are throwing meat at him with our decisions.
Here’s the truth: the enemy can prowl, but he can’t force. You’re not powerless. You’re just prone to wander.
That’s why we need more than a deliverance session—we need discipline. More than a prayer chain—we need personal holiness. More than rebuking Satan—we need to submit to God.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Note the order: Submit. Resist. Then he flees. Not vibe out in worship and hope your habitual sin packs its bags.
If we spent half as much time killing sin as we do blaming demons, revival would break out in our homes.
So next time you're tempted to say, "The devil made me do it" — pause.
Check the mirror.
Then pick up your cross.
And follow the One who already crushed the head of the serpent.
Because the only thing standing between you and obedience… is you.
Thanks for reading.
