Submit and Resist

(www.thebackpew.com)

 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. 

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. 

James 4:7-8a

About two nights ago, I spent most of the night tossing and turning instead of sleeping.  It was, as you can imagine, a miserable night.  No, I did not get up and do something constructive.  Yes, I did pray--in a sense.  

I spent the night reviewing everything that I could think of that I had done wrong in my life, especially with my family.  I beat myself up over the fact that we could have had more family devotions, been more active in teaching them, been more sympathetic--or less sympathetic--done more activities with them--or did we do too much?  I could go on.  But that was just one area.  

I then thought through how we have spent our money.  We could have given more to the poor, supported more missionaries.  We could have done this, should have done that.  Shouldn't have bought that house, should have checked out the renter better. Didn't listen to the Lord in this area--or did we?  Ad infinitum (not sure I spelled that right, and spell check has never heard the word, it seems.)  My prayers, it appears, were self-centered ramblings which the Lord likely laughed off--or grieved over.  I was full of pride!

Not until yesterday morning did it strike me that I was giving in to satanic attack.  My Lord doesn't badger me with "should/woulda/coulda."  He says through the apostle Paul, "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:13b-14

So today I submit to (place myself under) my Lord, who has greater things in store for me than wallowing in the past.  Today I resist (strive against;  endeavor to counteract, defeat or frustrate) the devil.  And you know what God promises?  THE DEVIL WILL FLEE FROM ME!

And praise God, through His Word He tells me that as I draw near to Him, He , my Abba Father, will draw near to me.  

Join me today in drawing near to the God, submitting in reverence to Him and to His holy will.  Join me as we strive against the enemy and his lies.  

As we watch the devil's backside,

Gloria