My parents taught my sister, brother, and me in everyday life, in everyday situations how to recognize snaky places. When we’d pass one—perhaps a swamp or an overgrown place—they often would say, “That place looks snaky.” Mother would sometimes add, “There are probably snakes in there as big as my leg.”

I’ve been asking God to give me discernment, to help me never call good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20), and He’s been teaching me to recognize spiritually snaky places, how to recognize “that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan” (Revelation 20:2 NKJV).

So, when I see evil drawings, recordings, or anything related to darkness and demons, whether it be in books, movies, TV, games, advertisements, or graphics, I recognize snaky places.

When I see anyone, including a celebrity, wearing a devil or evil-looking costume, I recognize that devil of old. Celebrities and people who do such things are definitely not lifting up the Lord, but Satan instead. It’s a snaky place.

When I see characters of movies, books, games, shows, or toys dressed like a demon, even if they are purported to be the good guy, I recognize a snaky place.

When I see upside-down crosses, devil horns, and other satanic symbols or see words like “magic” or “witch,” of course I recognize snaky places.

When I see cartoons in which animals shoot themselves in the head, or games in which someone dies just to suddenly live again, I recognize a snaky place.

When I hear God’s name used as a curse word or as an expression other than reverence or praise, I recognize a snaky place.

When I hear foul language, I recognize a snaky place (Colossians 3:8).

When I see commercials that hint at foul language, I recognize a snaky place, and I don’t use those companies. How could I ever trust them?

When I witness companies target children with their sinful agendas, I recognize snaky places.

When I see behavior that steals souls, kills faith or people, or destroys people and families, I recognize a snaky place.

When I recognize a snaky place, I avoid it. I avoid snaky places, natural ones and spiritual ones.

When I recognize a snaky place, it is a call to prayer against the agenda that is against God, His ways, truth, and His people/kingdom.

Satan is no longer hiding in dark snaky places. He is in plain sight, and it should be a no-brainer, but for some reason we do not always recognize those situations as snaky places. If it can be used to desensitize against sin, speaks against almighty God, promotes sin or invokes sinful thoughts, calls good evil or evil good, promotes darkness or evil, it is a snaky place and should be avoided, so we won’t be bitten and our souls threatened.

The Bible warns us to never “give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). When we do, he squeezes in, takes up residence, starts moving things around (like thoughts and ideas), then gets rid of things (like God, godly people, the Word of God and truth, and ultimately salvation), adds his own stuff (like strongholds, habits, and lies), and orchestrates a total take-over of mind, body, and soul with the ultimate goal of destroying and killing all.