I still remember being a 12-year-old aspiring basketball player and hearing NBA Hall-of-Famer Adrian Dantley teach about basketball’s “triple threat.” I learned that when you first receive the ball, you are in a great position with three potential options: dribble, shoot or pass. I wouldn’t soon forget the power of the triple threat. It changed the way I played basketball, and it even helped me beat my older brother in one-on-one a few times. As followers of Christ, we also have a “triple threat.” Our opponent, Satan, wants to defeat us and take us out. He doesn’t want us to win and is working overtime to make sure you and I are discouraged and overwhelmed. We start believing that the goal in life is to just survive—just get through one more day. When I coach, I always tell players that they need to be a threat on the court. If you get the basketball and the defender knows you aren’t going to do anything with the ball, the defender will smother you. But if the other players know you are a threat, they will be on their heels when you have the ball. It changes everything! In , Paul gives us a great spiritual triple threat. It is simply this: BE, PRAY, GIVE. This kind of triple threat will surely put Satan on his heels!

Threat #1: Be Joyful Always

Paul says to be joyful always, not sometimes. And this means more than just being happy. Joy is at the core of our soul. It is internal, while happiness is external. Happiness can come and go, but joy is constant. The joy of Christ should fill our hearts so that the outside stuff doesn’t creep in. Don’t let anyone or anything rob you of the joy that God has placed in you. Be a threat to Satan by allowing joy to pour out of your heart and affect others for eternity.

Threat #2: Pray Continually

You might be saying to yourself, “I pray, just not all the time.” The idea is not to be praying with our eyes closed and hands folded all day long, but instead to always be connected to our Maker—to always have access to the throne of glory. There should always be a prayer in our heart and on our lips. Prayer takes effort and time. It is hard, but continual prayer should change the way we live. E.M. Bounds said, “Get people to pray, and they will stop sinning, because prayer creates a distaste for sinning.” Are your prayers shaking the gates of Hell? When you pray is Satan on his heels?

Threat #3: Give Thanks in All Circumstances

In all three threats, Paul uses extreme commands. First, it was “always,” then “continually,” and, finally, it is “all.” Just like in , we need to use our words to build up others, bringing praise. When we speak, we either speak life or death. Giving thanks means speaking life in every situation: in the locker room, classroom, home, on the phone and even online. says that reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. When you speak, do you bring healing? Is Satan threatened by the way you talk? Does he fear every time you open your mouth because he knows you are speaking blessing and thanksgiving? The spiritual triple threat is simple: BE, PRAY, GIVE. What are you waiting for? Put Satan on his heels today! Our opponent will do everything to prevent you from being a triple threat, but remember that there are athletes and coaches depending on you to be joyful, pray continually and give thanks.