Posted on November 16, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Do you ever feel like you are trapped in a particular type of sin pattern? You keep confessing and confessing but make little or no long-term progress. It is discouraging isn’t it?
Confession is agreeing with God that His way is right and our way is wrong. That our choice to live according to the flesh rather than according to His Spirit is an offense to Almighty God. Confession is vital.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
It is so necessary for us to confess on a consistent basis. But it’s only half the battle. It’s the “submit yourselves therefore to God” half. Submitting to God and confessing our sin does not stop the devil from tempting and attacking.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
If we want to experience the victory won for us at the cross we must also resist the devil. Resist is a verb, not passive but active.
“Resist” is defined as “to set oneself against, to withstand resist, oppose[i]” and in James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5 “resist” is imperative [The imperative mood is a command or instruction given to the hearer, charging the hearer to carry out or perform a certain action.[ii]]
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith… 1 Peter 5:8-9
We are commanded, instructed to resist the devil. This is the second half of the battle. We need both confession and resistance to succeed. We will not experience Christ’s victory without actively resisting the devil.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
Come on sister, let’s gear up to submit ourselves to God AND resist the devil and walk in the victory that is already ours.
[i] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G436&t=ESV accessed 2.19.19
[ii] https://www.ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/verbs1.htm accessed 2.19.19
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
Think About This: “Every day is important for us because it is a day ordained by God. If we are bored with life there is something wrong with our concept of God and His involvement in our daily lives. Even the most dull and tedious days of our lives are ordained by God and ought to be used by us to glorify Him.” ― Jerry Bridges
The Daily Bible Reading: John 20-21, Acts 1. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
