…submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. —James 4:7 (GNT)
Beloved, do you truly want to resist the devil so that he can flee from you or start avoiding you? Well, the key is to submit to God. Over the years, I have seen many believers try to resist the devil by using just words. But the truth is that no matter how much you say “Satan I resist you,” it will not work. Words alone do not resist Satan; they must be backed up by actions. When we are talking about actions, it is not just any action, but genuine submission to God.
The key to resisting Satan and stopping him from wreaking havoc in your life is by submitting yourself to God in all areas of your life. In our opening text, the Bible says …submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. —James 4:7 (GNT). This lets us know that submission to God is actually resistance to the devil. Sadly, that is not always the case today. Too many believers are unconsciously submitted to the devil through their words, actions, and attitudes. This unconscious submission to Satan resists God’s default.
I know this might sound harsh, but it is the plain truth. We have believers today who still find it difficult to come to church or fellowship with the brethren. We have believers who find it difficult to pray, study the Bible, sit through a message of faith in their free time, or even talk to someone about Christ. Yet, they can spend hours doing everything else that entertains the flesh but does not edify the spirit or strengthen their relationship with God. When they start getting manipulated by the devil, they wonder why it is happening, unknown to them that they have been submitted to Satan unconsciously through their actions. The Bible says, Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey—either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. —Romans 6:16 (GNT).
Beloved, this is not how God wants us to live our lives. Stop resisting God and be submitted to Him. Be deliberate about this, because until you are, you will continue to submit to Satan unconsciously. Become mindful of how you spend your time and what you spend it on. Let God, His Word, and His work become a priority in your life. Watch out for what entertains you. Is it God or something else? Do you get bored with matters that have to do with God, or do you enjoy Him? What do you spend your money on? Are you in favor of God’s righteous cause, or are you pursuing self? Sit back and ponder on these truths. When you do, it will help you to get clarity, submit to God better, and by default, resist the devil. Hallelujah!
Today’s Rhema
Every time you submit to God, His ideas, opinions, and to His commands, you are resisting Satan by default!
Prayer
Father, I am grateful for this wonderful truth. I choose this day to submit to You, Your Word, and Your work. I declare that as I do this consistently, Satan is forever resisted in my life in Jesus name. Amen!
