Scripture:
“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8)
Reading:
Sin is something like spiritual trash. Unattended it attracts flies. This is also true spiritually. Our rebellion creates an opening for negative spiritual influences. In fact, James tells us that sin “brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
When we intentionally and daily place ourselves under God’s authority, we live according to His divine viewpoint rather than our own. Then, the abundant life that Jesus promises increasingly becomes our experience (John 10:10). It is life lived through a deep and meaningful relationship with God.
Before James tells his readers to “submit to God,” he points out how these Christians were living self-reliant lives. Enticed by selfish desires they were easily deceived and experiencing turmoil. To a degree, they had stopped drawing near to God, loving Jesus, obeying Him, and their lives showed it.
We must be deliberate in what we resist and what we draw near. If we do not draw near to God, we either go with the flow or resist Him, and ultimately attract darkness. We want to live under the authority of the author of life, not death.
How are we to respond when we realize we have welcomed spiritual darkness?
We must repent of pride and confess our need for God’s authority. If not we may become “stiff necked” refusing to look to God, defensive, and self-centered. From there our spiritual enemy will continue to feed our sense of entitlement and wreak havoc in our lives.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if you are living outside of God’s protective authority. Make up your mind to submit daily to Him with your whole being. Place yourself under the Lord’s care through repentance and obedience.
For it is Your God who promises, “Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” (Hebrews 4:16AMP)
Your Turn:
1. Are there habits or actions that you need to bring into agreement with God? Ask the Lord to purify your heart and mind.
2. How can you draw nearer to God and resist temptation?
Prayer:
Father God, in Jesus name I bring myself and my family into the shelter of the Most High where we find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I confess You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Lord, I submit to Your authority over my life. Thank You for drawing near to me. Amen. (Psalm 91)