SCORCHED-EARTH is a military strategy deployed with ruthless tactics by one side to destroy anything that might be useful to its opponent and, in the process, completely kill them off at any cost. Using a SCORCHED EARTH strategy produces destructive carnage of course, but its most powerful force is PSYCHOLOGICAL in how it destroys the HEART and WILL of everyone it hits. SCORCHED EARTH is the favorite strategy of Satan—the prince of darkness and evil enemy of all Christians. This blood-thirsty accuser of believers everywhere has a goal to scorch our hearts and pry us away from God. Satan is hiding behind COVID-19 and using SCORCHED EARTH as his Spiritual Warfare Strategy in 2020. He aims to blind minds, tempt people to sin, steal the Word of God out of people’s hearts, and strangle their faith breath. The only way our Enemy can be successful with his SCORCHED EARTH strategy is if we—and the church—retreat into our bunkers and hope the attack passes. The casualties in that foolish move are the essential purposes and tenets of the Christian faith–God’s Word; Fellowship; Prayer; Ministry/Mission; Stewardship; and Worship. Retreating to our bunkers makes it tough to put those purposes in play on Satan’s battlefield. Tough to offer an encouraging smile or soft pat on the back. Tough to hug those who are hurting. Tough to offer powerful prayers in Jesus’ name. That is UNACCEPTABLE! God wants us to FIGHT BACK with his help as our FIELD GENERAL who is always accessible through his “Prayer Walkie-Talkie.” He sees behind enemy lines and knows in advance what attacks will come our way. And he has written down our defense in his wartime manifesto—the BIBLE. “…that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 I thank God for his promise to strengthen me and protect me from the enemy’s SCORCHED EARTH attacks and tries to burn up my heart and pry me away his inner sanctuary and hope in the future (2 Thessalonians 3:3). In Jesus’ name, Amen. There are no neutral “cease-fire” zones. No opt-out options in this war. We are all involved and living in one of two camps: 1) Already defeated by the Enemy; or 2) Resisting his SCORCHED EARTH attacks and realizing we are on the winning team of a battle that is ALREADY WON (Colossians 2:15). Which is it for you? Are you FIGHTING BACK against Satan’s SCORCHED EARTH strategy in 2020 or hiding out in a bunker? “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8