Resisting Our Enemy

But he giveth more grace. 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.

James 4:6‭-‬8 KJV

Humility, submission, resistance of our enemy, drawing close to God and cleansing our hands and hearts. EACH step is necessary. We can't bypass one or the other and expect to have the victory.

Humbling ourselves before God is where it all begins. When we bring him our hearts, our WHOLE heart is when he can work in us AND through us. If we aren't fully humble and submitted to him and his authority, he can't work for us. In my own life, I've seen how God can bring us to our knees, literally, so that we become humble and submitted to him and his plan. God has a plan and we have to take those first steps toward him in order for HIS plan to be established.

Once God shows us more and more of himself, it draws us closer and closer to him because his love is GREAT for us. When we feel his love for us and let him wrap us in his arms when we need him the most, our relationship with him grows stronger and stronger.

Now, don't think that the enemy is just going to sit back and allow us to be free and clear from his attacks. His intentions will always and forever be to hinder us and slow us down in our walk with God. That's why we have to RESIST him when those attacks come. If we give in and allow an attack to consume our minds and affect our feelings, then he's won. He did the job he came to do. It's when we RESIST his attacks, when we discern what he's doing and that he's attacking, that we gain the upper hand. He WILL flee from us because he knows he's been caught. He knows he can't tempt us with those same things anymore.

Each time we get the victory over something, you can be certain that the devil is going to come back JUST to see if he can cause us to fall again. WE have to be the one to REALIZE it and RESIST it! The only power he has is what WE give him.

As long as we live, ESPECIALLY as long as we live for God, we're going to face an all out spiritual war. Every. Single. Day.

Be on the lookout always! He tries to hide in weak vessels to work through them to get to you! That's why it's SO important for us to be strong in the Lord!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬12 KJV

No matter what attack comes your way, know that GREATER is HE! No matter the attack, it doesn't change who YOU are, it just shows how threatened the enemy is by you! No matter the attack, NEVER let it tarnish or dirty your clean heart! Always pray for God to create in you a clean heart. Strive to stay true to him for all he's done for you. Walk in deliverance from all he's brought you out of!

Even Jesus fought battles and was tempted by Satan, yet he remained free from the sin that comes from allowing the enemy to have his way. It's not an easy fight, but our Lord goes before us to fight our battles to give US the victory! No matter what battle you may be facing today, be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might! He is MORE than able and YOU are more than a conqueror!