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It happened again (audio by Teresa Hampton)
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OH NO, SHE’S UP!
Recently, a good friend was talking about her New Year’s resolutions. She told me she had decided on the one thing she would like to accomplish this year. She said she wanted to make the devil say when she got up every morning, “Oh no, she’s up!”
What a great motivation for the new year! There is only one problem—how do you accomplish such a thing?
I am convinced that we might not make this happen every single day; but it is possible to put the devil on the run, even if we aren’t perfect people. I think it is possible to make the devil dread seeing us get up in the morning.
I want us to think about some ways we can make this happen. Once the list is compiled, keep it handy and add to it as you think of other scriptures.
First, we must identify this devil and how he incorporates himself into our lives. The apostle Peter gives us the perfect explanation. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (First Peter 5:8 ESV).
The devil is hunting, just like a lion. He goes about seeking those who are easy prey. His goal is to devour. This is his character. He has always been this way, and he will be this way until the Lord comes to destroy him.
Peter followed his warning by giving us one of the ways we can make the devil shudder when we get up in the morning. He said, “Resist him, firm in your faith” (First Peter 5:9). Through our faith we have to identify the things the devil uses to tempt us, and then we have to resist him. If we do this, God will strengthen us.
Peter was not the only apostle that understood the devil and how he works. The apostle Paul also gave us some instructions about the devil. He said, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
The devil is a schemer. He loves to devise a plan and watch as we fall into his trap. Though it seems that we are fighting against the physical, the physical is just the means the devil uses to entrap us. He works through those who oppose all that is good and right. He uses the physical to destroy that which is spiritual within us.
Paul continues with his instruction, having us put on Christian armor. If we are going to fight a war with the devil, we need to be protected. We need the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes—the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17). Verse 18 tells us to add prayer and keep alert.
Fighting sin and the devil is like going to war. Without a knowledge of the gospel and an unwavering faith in God, we cannot expect to win the battle.
The devil also presents himself in the form of passions, foolish and ignorant controversies, and ungodliness (Second Timothy 2). He uses the lust and passions of youth to entice the young and vulnerable away from God.
Paul told Timothy to flee those youthful lusts. He was to have nothing to do with the quarreling of those who wanted to be contentious. He was to be righteous, full of faith, love, peace, be kind to everyone, have the ability to teach others, and gently correct opponents (Second Timothy 2:22-25).
If we want the devil to dread our getting up every morning, we must do exactly what James tells us to do. He said, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
Sandra Oliver