DEVOTION: Resisting Satan by Lisa Harris

Satan wants us to doubt the sovereignty of God, to doubt the truth that God is in control.  However, the Bible is quite clear that through Jesus Christ we have the victory.  How can we resist Satan when he throws doubts and fears at us?  James 4:7 says that if you “Resist the devil, … he will flee from you.”  

Scripture gives us a number of passages that deal with resisting the devil.  To resist means to defeat or oppose, to fight against.

Ephesians 4:26  "Don’t sin in your anger and don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry."

Ephesians 4:27  “and do not give the devil a foothold.”

I Peter 5:8-9  “Be self-controlled and alert….Resist him (Satan) standing firm in the faith, …”

James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”  Resist the devil and perseveres.  Each time we feel doubts rising we must resist the devil and persevere.

In order to resist the devil, Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-18 that we must put on the armor of Christ.  What does this mean?  Paul mentions six specific things.

1.  We need to know the truths of God.
2.  We need to live a righteous life.
3.  We need to be prepared at all times for the devil’s schemed
4.  We need to keep our faith in God even in the midst of trials.’
5.  We need to be confident of our salvation.
6.  We need to have firm knowledge of the Word of God that never stops growing.

It’s staying constantly alert as we focus our lives on Christ, prayer, and a continual deepening of our knowledge of the Word.  It’s trusting the Holy Spirit to “guide us into all truth”  (John 16:13) and to “strengthen our inner being" (Colossians 1:11).

LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award nominated author who has over twenty novels and novella collections in print. She and her husband, Scott, along with their three children, live near the Indian Ocean in Mozambique as missionaries. As a homeschooling mom, life can get hectic, but she sees her writing as an extension of her ministry which also includes running a non-profit organization The ECHO Project. To find out more about her books you can visit her website.