I know what it's like to be determined. Loretta and I lived in Kansas City right after we got married and I needed a job badly. I went to a drafting company and the only opening they had was for an engineer to design reinforcing steel for part of Interstate 70 and five public schools. When they asked me if I could do it, I said, "Yes, I can do it." They gave me drafting equipment and my own desk between two civil engineers.

I mean it was cool! But I didn't even know general math. I immediately enrolled in night school where I was learning trigonometry and log rhythm scales. I had the books piled up and every time I needed to know something, I would hit the books.

I was staying just an inch ahead of it all. Then they came to me one day and said, "You're one of the best draftsmen we've ever had here. Your drawings are so precise." What they didn't know was I'd already done that drawing twenty-two times while practicing at home, but I was determined to do it right.

If you're determined to back down the devil and put him where he's supposed to be, you can do it. You have the tools to do it. Just get determined and decide you're going to learn as you go. You can stay one step ahead of the devil. You've got the manual.

That's what I did at this steel company. I had the manuals. When a job came up, everybody else may have been doing it without looking at the manuals, but I looked at the manuals. I had to spend extra time because I didn't know as much as they knew. But it was worth it because I wanted to keep my position.

When the devil comes against you and you don't know what to do, get out the manual and put in some overtime. Just determine you're going to do it. The devil may come at you with disappointment, depression, despair, and discouragement. He likes to tell you all kinds of lies because he is a liar, but you don't have to listen to him.

You are of your father the devil; and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him; for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.
(John 8:44 AMP)

I've met people in my life who have lied to me. I choose not to listen to them anymore. Yet, I know people who will listen to someone who is a liar. You can't trust a liar. However, people still listen to them! I see people still listening to the lies of the devil and I think to myself, "Why in the world are they letting the devil convince them that they can be defeated?"

Source: Life is in The Blood by Larry Ollison
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries