The Hand of Resistance

“Resist the devil and He will flee from you” James 4:7 

This was our Vacation Bible School day four memory verse. Though it may be short and sweet, it’s mighty. Out of all the verses we helped the kids memorize last week, this one just seemed to stick. One by one, as the kids would approach me and resite their verse, it wouldn’t leave my mind. Even with the added stress of taking charge of  crafts and games, it wouldn’t leave me. I wasn’t even in the church when they repeated it over and over while learning it. In fact, the verse had very little effect on me until this VBS. 

It’s funny how God works. I felt like I needed to share this with you all today!

“resist the devil and he will flee from you”

My church just came out of our first family camp in years. Camp Victory was indeed—filled with spiritual victory. God met in a way many of us have never experienced before. 

Those who have been in God’s presence know what usually happens afterwards. The devil FIGHTS. The moment you walk out of those doors is when satan finds you—determined to destroy what God is doing in your life. 

I spoke with a youth evangelists wife at this camp about how the devil fought me personally after a service filled with the Holy Ghost. She too, fought the devil hard that night. 

The devil fights. 

The devil finds your weaknesses and uses them to bring you down. For me, it’s many things, but what the devil likes to use is my personal insecurity. I start looking around, comparing, thinking I’m not enough, getting boggled down in my own circumstance—it’s how the devil prevents me from dwelling on God’s provision in my life. It stops me from praying, being a light—-it stops me from letting God use me in the moment. 

What does the devil use against you? Everyone has an outlet where satan will sneak his way into your emotions. Your thinking process. 

They devil will keep fighting you until…

“resist the devil”

You resist. Resist satan and his schemes! Recognize what the devil is doing and put a stop to it. 

Easier said than done? Here are a few things that could possibly help:))

•Pray 

Always seek God. Even if the prayer os as simple as, “Lord, help me”.

•Sing 

Hum your favorite hymn! The devil hates all things that involve God’s praise.

•Reflect 

Reflect on the goodness of God and how He has helped recently. The only reason the devil is fighting is because God is doing something big in your life. 

Choose to resist him. 

Think back to a time when you felt God’s presence so much to the point you could practically touch Him. Perhaps in camp meeting, church or even in your own home. Embrace how God felt in that moment. Times like that will come again! God will be near again. 

When the devil fights, when you see no hope or joy around you—look up and shake off the devil. 

It’s hard, but God gives us the strength we need for such things and so much more. Stay encouraged:))

~Mikayla Poff