(I an not an ordained minister, but I have a lot of experience in my 40-plus  years of following God and overcoming the enemy. I believe this can help you understand better how your spiritual life works, and give you victory over the junk, so you can have more of the Zoe life Jesus died for you to have (Deut. 11, and John 10:10!)

The enemy is called, among many things, "the accuser of the Brethren,"  and "the father of lies." So when he talks, he's lying, and trying to bring guilt--against ourselves, and especially others. His purpose is to hurt hearts; to divide and destroy. 

However, when we have the Holy Spirit--the Spirit of Jesus--in our hearts, then the Holy Spirt Who is the Truth will lead us into all truth. Hallelujah!

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.Far greater is Jesus the Truth in us, than the deceiver who's defeated who is in the earth! --John 16:13, Berean Study Bible

Far greater is the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of Truth, than the enemy! God is for us, and none can be against us, when we follow Him (Romans 8:31)!

…3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time. 4 You, little children, are from God and  have overcome  them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. -- I John 4:4, Berean Study Bible

Here are two ways that can usually help you know if you are listening to the devil (who forever lies, and is also called "the father of lies,") instead of God:

(1) If you have bad thoughts about a person or certain people, but then are really glad to see them when you encounter them in person or talk to them on the phone or computer, then you just temporarily listened to the lies of the enemy, who's trying to torment you and hurt the relationship.

(2) If you have bad thoughts about the person, and/or find yourself saying bad things out loud about them when they're not around; don't want to see them; and still feel negative (or very negative!) when you are around them, then most likely, some or all of these have happened, and set up a stronghold (which I call "wronghold"; there could be more than one, which means the devil has had an open door into your soul (mind/will/emotions) to afflict you, and to steal your peace and whatever he can--like destroying the relationship).  Only the LORD can help you (with your cooperation!) become free of this or these! 

I speak from experience. God is good, and patient, and faithful, and, once we receive His Son, Christ Jesus, and what He did for us by shedding His pure blood on the cross over 2,000 years ago to pay for all our sins (John 3:14-17; Romans 5:7-9, and more!), He continuously works with us to help us recognize and repent of junk in our lives, so we can be at peace and free to fully follow Him!

(I an not an ordained minister, but I have a lot of experience in my 40-plus  years of following God and overcoming the enemy. I believe this can help you understand better how your spiritual life works, and give you victory over the junk, so you can have more of the Zoe life Jesus died for you to have (Deut. 11, and John 10:10!)

The enemy is called, among many things, "the accuser of the Brethren,"  and "the father of lies." So when he talks, he's lying, and trying to bring guilt--against ourselves, and especially others. His purpose is to hurt hearts; to divide and destroy. 

However, when we have the Holy Spirit--the Spirit of Jesus--in our hearts, then the Holy Spirt Who is the Truth will lead us into all truth. Hallelujah!

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.Far greater is Jesus the Truth in us, than the deceiver who's defeated who is in the earth! --John 16:13, Berean Study Bible

Far greater is the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of Truth, than the enemy! God is for us, and none can be against us, when we follow Him (Romans 8:31)!

…3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time. 4 You, little children, are from God and  have overcome  them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. -- I John 4:4, Berean Study Bible

Here are two ways that can usually help you know if you are listening to the devil (who forever lies, and is also called "the father of lies,") instead of God:

(1) If you have bad thoughts about a person or certain people, but then are really glad to see them when you encounter them in person or talk to them on the phone or computer, then you just temporarily listened to the lies of the enemy, who's trying to torment you and hurt the relationship.

(2) If you have bad thoughts about the person, and/or find yourself saying bad things out loud about them when they're not around; don't want to see them; and still feel negative (or very negative!) when you are around them, then most likely, some or all of these have happened, and set up a stronghold (which I call "wronghold"; there could be more than one, which means the devil has had an open door into your soul (mind/will/emotions) to afflict you, and to steal your peace and whatever he can--like destroying the relationship).  Only the LORD can help you (with your cooperation!) become free of this or these! 

I speak from experience. God is good, and patient, and faithful, and, once we receive His Son, Christ Jesus, and what He did for us by shedding His pure blood on the cross over 2,000 years ago to pay for all our sins (John 3:14-17; Romans 5:7-9, and more!), He continuously works with us to help us recognize and repent of junk in our lives, so we can be at peace and free to fully follow Him! Hallelujah! What a good, good God we serve! 

…7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good  man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!…Romans 5:7-9, Berean Study Bible

We are to resist (refute; reject; refuse) the devil and his works. However, if we don't know the Word (which is the will and the ways of God!), and how the Holy Spirit and the holy angels (who are totally committed to do the perfect will of God forever!) work with us to contnually help us desire and become more like the Master, Jesus, then the enemy (the ultimate bully!) will coninually be able to distract one from the wonderful life in God, and destroy as much as he can of one's life! 

…26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.--Ephesians 4:26-27, Berean Study Bible

We have to learn to recognize and repent of (which means to stop doing what is against God, and start doing what He does say to do) and renounce (to totally be done with, and to disclaim all connections to something and/or someone) everything to do with the works of evil (and the enemy tries to make them very enticing, but the end of being involved in things against God is always some form of destruction; death). 

Jesus came to set us free from all this devil-junk, and give us a wonderful life on earth; recreating the Garden (Genesis 1) life of The Blessing, which was always His intent, then even more when our bodies die and our spirits go to Heaven to be with Him forever!  

…35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  --John 8:35-36, Berean Study Bible

Hallelujah! What a good, good God we serve! 

…7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good  man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!…Romans 5:7-9, Berean Study Bible

We are to resist (refute; reject; refuse) the devil and his works. However, if we don't know the Word (which is the will and the ways of God!), and how the Holy Spirit and the holy angels (who are totally committed to do the perfect will of God forever!) work with us to contnually help us desire and become more like the Master, Jesus, then the enemy (the ultimate bully!) will coninually be able to distract one from the wonderful life in God, and destroy as much as he can of one's life! 

…26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.--Ephesians 4:26-27, Berean Study Bible

We have to learn to recognize and repent of (which means to stop doing what is against God, and start doing what He does say to do) and renounce (to totally be done with, and to disclaim all connections to something and/or someone) everything to do with the works of evil (and the enemy tries to make them very enticing, but the end of being involved in things against God is always some form of destruction; death). 

…14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.…--James 1:14-16, Berean Study Bible

So, we overcome the wrong stuff with The Word of God, worship, and prayer, which I'm not going to elaborate upon here. 

Know this: If you don't have Jesus to help you overcome the enemy and all the junk of the world, you are always going to fail. Only faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ will secure your eternal future--and this life on earth.  

God is so gracious; He chose to forgive every person ever born of all their wrongs against Him, by sending Jesus, Who gave His life for us in the most agonizing way possible! All we have to do is speak out loud that we agree that we need Jesus' blood to cleanse our hearts, and save us from hell (including from hell on earth!), and invite Him into our lives to be our Savior and LORD! He makes it so easy! He is so good, and gentle, and kind, gracious, meciful, and faithful forever!

Jesus is beautiful for every situation, and no matter how many "wrongholds" we have in our lives, He will help us become free of them, if we want to be!

Trust me; I've had so many from which He's powerfully, graciously, and permanently delivered me from, that I am living proof of His faithful mercy and grace! If He will do it for me, He will do it for you, for He loves everyone the same!)

…10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.…Romans 2:10-12, Berean Study Bible

God is for you, and He will help you! He is helping you right now, with these words. 

6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…James 4:6-8, Berean Study Bible

Trust in Him, and He will bring you to great victory, freedom, and peace!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.