“…Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:8-10
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:6-9
The devil’s mission is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10), and he would love nothing more than to keep people from repenting and giving their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ for the promise of an everlasting relationship with God and to make miserable the lives of those who have already devoted their lives to Christ and to keep them from spreading the Gospel message and from helping to build God’s forever Kingdom of Christ followers. In the passages above are four keys for us to achieve victory as we face the devil’s continual attacks and temptations.
- We need to HUMBLE OURSELVES before God and remember our victory is in HIS strength not our flesh.
- We need to humbly and continually SUBMIT OURSELVES to the Lord, to yield our hearts and lives to God and His ways as He teaches us through His Word.
- We need to CAST OUR ANXIETIES, WORRIES, CARES, TROUBLES, BURDENS, ETC. on the Lord, to receive His love, comfort, care, wisdom, and direction, and yield to how His Spirit leads us step by step through our lives.
- We need to continually PURIFY OURSELVES by studying and living by His Word, repenting of sin, and purging from our lives whatever and whomever He wants us to let go, welcoming and allowing and not hindering His love, power, and strength to flow through us by His Spirit.
Victory isn’t that we don’t get attacked and face temptations, but that in the Lord’s strength for His glory we humbly in thanksgiving live our lives in endless love for and loving obedience to Him.