Resist the Enemy!

“The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.” Corrie Ten Boom

The fifth of six areas I’m paying more attention to in 2016 is recognizing and dealing quickly with distractions from the enemy of my soul. As Corrie says, it’s the first step to victory in my life…and yours.

Therefore my “don’t” for the new year is: Don’t allow Satan even a foothold in 2016.

A foothold such as a temptation to sin, a bad attitude, a root of bitterness, an evil imagination are all effective wedges Satan uses to open the door to wider engagement. None of us need that. It only stifles our spiritual life and can lead us back to the slavery we once knew before we were Christians.

To engage effectively, we need to be aware of Satan’s designs. As Paul wrote:

…we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs (2 Corinthians 2:11, ESV).

Ask yourself: are you ignorant of Satan’s designs for your life? You can be assured his designs for your 2016 are meant for your discouragement and defeat; never for your good.

So what is our “do” for 2016? How about a Scripture:

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

How do we resist the devil? One effective way is to use the Word against him.

For instance, when he brings a spirit of depression your way, resist with a reminder that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Or how about Paul’s admonition to: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4).

Know this: For every design of Satan, there is a remedy. Some of these remedies are found in Ephesians 6, a good chapter to memorize.

I’d also suggest we all practice living by God’s promises in 2016. My book Power in the Promises can help with that.

Don’t let the enemy bring you down in 2016.

Next time, the sixth and final entry in this series.