June 26
The Power of Satan
is Limited
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Daily Steps
The existence of a powerful spiritual adversary, Satan (the devil), can be a major source of anxiety in the unseen world. This verse provides the new believer with a clear strategy for peace: Submit to God and recognize the devil's limited power.
The peace in this strategy is found in simple action:
The Priority of Submission: Your security begins with a single choice: "Submit yourselves, then, to God." Submission means aligning your will, thoughts, and actions entirely under God's authority. This act is your ultimate defense, because the devil can have no authority over what is fully submitted to Christ.
The Command to Resist: Once submitted to God, the instruction is to "Resist the devil." This requires an active, firm refusal to entertain temptation, accusation, or fear (The Armor of God, Day 112). Your resistance is effective not because of your strength, but because of your allegiance to Christ.
The Guaranteed Retreat: The promise is certain: "and he will flee from you." Satan is not omnipotent; his power is limited by God's sovereignty. When resisted by one submitted to God, the devil is forced to retreat. This realization removes the paralyzing fear of the unseen enemy.
Your peace in the unseen world is secured by active submission to God. By yielding to God and firmly resisting the devil, you guarantee his retreat and find freedom from spiritual fear.
Reflective Question
In what specific area of your life (a persistent bad habit, a recurring fear, or a temptation) have you been struggling to resist the devil? How can you purposefully submit that area to God today to empower your resistance and ensure his retreat?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my anxiety over the influence of the spiritual enemy. I pray for the strength to fully submit myself to You today. I choose to resist the devil in all his attempts to tempt or accuse me, resting in Your powerful promise that he will flee from me. Secure my peace in the knowledge of Your ultimate authority. Amen.
