Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
Conquerors throughout the ages have emphasized, “know your enemy.” It is said that when you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result! That principle also applies in the spiritual world.
Satan is a deceiver who has been working the same battle plan since the beginning of the world. He tempts humans to turn their hearts away from the Lord, trying to steal God’s glory in His creation. The enemy does this by lying and deceiving people, blinding the minds of humans so they will not recognize God’s goodness and salvation. His deceptions puff people up with selfish pride and self-righteousness. The aim of the devil is to cause people to reject God and embrace sin rather than recognizing and accepting God’s love and loving Him in return.
While the devil is a powerful enemy, he is a defeated foe! God won the war. However, there is still a battle being fought. Are you prepared for the next time temptation presents itself? Are you ready to submit to the Lord and surrender to His way rather than go your own?
“Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5). You will overcome your next conflict by living the Lord’s way. “Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Pray for those in authority in the United States to discover and embrace their identity and strength in Christ.
Today’s Verse: James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 3:4-8
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
