Discover His heart: He has provided help for us to resist the devil
Dieting – the great American pastime, or is that baseball? This is a subject I could write about all day – dieting that is, well, maybe baseball too. The Weight Loss industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, and I’ve certainly added to its coffers. My favorite weight loss program is the “eat all you want and still lose weight” approach. It doesn’t work, but it’s still my favorite. My husband thinks diet programs are a waste of time because he says that losing weight it is simply of matter of burning more calories than you eat. This is what he does, and it works. I must admit, I really resent him for it.
Over the years, I’ve tried just about every angle to weight loss, and there is one thing that I know for sure. We can resist that chocolate cake all day long, but if we’re not submitted and committed to a program, a prayer or a straitjacket, we’re eventually going to eat that chocolate cake. Forgive this trite analogy, but we need to know that there is more to resisting the devil than meets the eye.
@ James 4
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (7) Of course, the Word is true, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” but the success of our resisting is far greater when we first submit ourselves to God. Sometimes we forget about the first part of the verse, but He is the one with the strategy to overcome. And sometimes we forget exactly who we’re resisting, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” (I Peter 5:8-9) Just like with the chocolate cake, on our own, we may waver in our resistance, but surrendered and humbled before the Lord, the enemy is no match for us.
When a soldier reports for active duty, he has surrendered his personal goals and way of life all the way down to the uniform he wears. God has provided a uniform of sorts for all who are submitted to him. We will resist our enemy best when we are in our military dress, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil…Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)
If we truly want to resist the devil, it’s time to suit up. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:14-17) Submitted to our leader and dressed in our armor, we won’t waver, we won’t give, and we’ll be all that we can be and then some. Not only will we resist the devil, but we’ll also send him fleeing!
Moving Forward: I may have trouble with that chocolate cake, but I will submit to the Lord today, suit up, resist the enemy and see him take flight!
Tomorrow @ Deuteronomy 7-9
Phyllis Benigas 