Am I Acting Out of God's Character or Satan's Power?

Carley Rains
Dec 12, 2025
3 min read

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate." Genesis 3:7

Many of us look at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and think we would never take its fruit. We think the way we live now pleases God and is within the Tree of Life.

But let's evaluate.

Daniel Schwabauer recently published a book called "The God of Story." I originally bought it thinking it would help me with my writing (and it has). But it has actually helped me see new revelations in Scripture - especially when it comes to God's character.

Towards the middle of the book, Daniel compares God's principles (or God's character) with Satan's mission for power. He uses the story of Job to explain:

Satan went to God because he wanted to prove to God that Job only worships Him because of what God does for Job (His Power).
God then had a choice:
- Let Satan be right and do something about Satan's request (aka use His power against him and in Job's favor).
- Or do nothing and prove through Job's loyalty that Job worshipped God not because of what God could do for him but because of who He is (His Principle).

In storytelling, many authors try to prove the protagonist's ability through their power (what they can do to overcome evil). What makes Christian literature sacred and holy is that the protagonist's power isn't what wins. It's their principle. Their values and beliefs for why they act.

Daniel explains that Satan's motive has and will always be power. He wanted God's power in Heaven when he was an angel. He didn't care about God's principles. His perspective on "being like God" meant being all-powerful. To him, power is more important than principle.

So what does this have to do with us?

Well as Christians, we are told to forgive instead of take revenge. To bless instead of curse. We are commanded to live based on God's principles and not His power. Yes, God has a lot of power, but I realized as I read Daniel's commentary that it was because of God's principle that Jesus remained on the Cross - not His Power.

When Jesus is nailed to the cross, two thieves are beside him. One says, "Hey, if you're really the Son of God, then get us down from here." Prove yourself. Use your power to show the world who you really are.

But Jesus understood that true victory is not in the power we show but in the principle of who God is.

Although He could have commanded all the angels to rescue Him, He remained faithful and submissive to God's will - showing us that character beats willpower every time.

Another example is when Satan tempts Jesus. Every temptation, Satan was prompting Jesus to use His power to prove Himself.

"If you are the Son of Man, then..."

Jesus could have destroyed Satan right then and there. But doing so would have proven Satan's point: Power is the greatest authority.

Today God is calling all of us to not behave based on power (what can we do). He's asking us to live based on His principles (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control). This is why Scripture says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Because strength doesn't come from power. It comes from God's character.

We have authority in Christ not because of His power but because of His amazing characteristics. They are the reason we are even allowed to partake in His rulership.

Today I encourage you to evaluate your life.