“Resist the devil and he shall flee” (James 4:7).

Do we really understand what “resisting the devil”, means? If the Bible tells us that “our enemy the devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,” then why do we not protect ourselves from the strategic plan of the enemy? Why do we knowingly allow our adversary to enter into our minds, homes, finances, and relationships? The devil is not our friend and therefore we cannot assume his presence to be one of a passive nature. Like a lion in the wilderness waiting to attack and devour his prey, the devil sits and waits for the appropriate opportunity to attack. Those opportunities of attack for Satan is when we are preoccupied with life, whether it be enjoying our everyday life and the blessings that God has given us or being distracted by financial issues, relationships, work, bills, depression whatever the situation Satan waits for the right time to blindside his prey in order to have the upper hand. In James chapter 4 verses 7 through 10, God has given specific instruction on “resisting the devil”.

1.       Submit yourselves to God.

2.       Resist the devil and he will flee.

3.       Draw nigh (near) to God and he “WILL” draw nigh (near) to you.

“God is not a man that he should lie” (Num 23:19), he said ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find (Matt 7:7), instruction number 3 simply means seek God and ask for a relationship with him and he “Will,” accommodate you with relationship that embodies his voice, his presence, his comfort , his protection, his mercy and his grace. God desires to give to his children, like most of us desire to give to our children and love ones. Jesus died so that we do not have to live in the bondage of Satan.  He came and walked this earth that “WE MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLy” (John 10:10).

So why do we continuely forfeit our rights to an abundant life? Not resisting Satan is a detriment to all things holy in your life. James 4:7 continues with the 4^th specific instruction

4.       Cleanse your hands (confess, purge)

5.        Purify your hearts  (Repent)

6.       Grieve

7.        Mourn

8.       Wail

9.       Change

10.   Humble  yourself before God

These 10 commands in James shape the spiritually immature and unfaithful by reversing their attitudes. Again, God is not a man that he should lie and neither is the son of man, if he says it, is it not so (Numbers 23:19) Resisting the devil is like resisting a prowler trying to enter into your home to steal your belongings. When you are away from home you protect your belongings with an alarm system that not only call the police for you, but they also alert your neighbors, which in essence cause’s the prowler to run away in fear of getting caught. The same is true when you are in the house and a prowler tries to enter in, you and the prowler (Satan) both know that he should not be there, again in essence you do what is necessary to defend your home and should he run away in fear of getting caught or leave the house wounded it is a victory because nothing was taken and no one got hurt. The same way we defend our home, family and belongings, is the same way we should defend our lives’ against Satan’s Camp and strategic plans. God has given you the weapon, the authority and the power to defeat the enemy, So fight the Good Fight of Faith and stop allowing the adversary (Satan) to devour you, your families/marriages, finances and life!

God Bless you in Jesus name,

Amen.

Kokey Lanay