When the Devil Waits For You

Some gospel-soaked encouragement from Martin Luther.

When I go to bed, the Devil is always waiting for me. When he begins to plague me, I give him this answer: “Devil, I must sleep. That’s God’s command, ‘Work by day. Sleep by night.’ So go away.” If that doesn’t work and he brings our a catalog of sins, I say, “Yes, old fellow, I know all about it. And i know some more you have overlooked. Here are a few extra. Put them down.” If he still won’t quit and presses me hard and accuses me as a sinner, I scorn him and say, “St. Satan, pray for me. Of course you have never done anything wrong in your life. You alone are holy. Go to God and get grace for yourself. if you want to get me all straightened out, i say, ‘Physician, heal thyself.’”

Bainton, Roland H. Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther / Roland H. Bainton, New American Library, New York, NY, 1978, pp. 375–376.