READ
REFLECT
Competitors have healthy influences. They are guided by people, values, and principles, that help them excel.
In today’s culture especially, having good influences is critical. Without them, it is easy to be separated from the Good Shepherd’s flock. And the further we wander from Him, the more tumultuous the terrain can become.
Additionally, when we are alone and vulnerable, the Devil takes notice. When we don’t surround ourselves with good influences, we choose to become easier prey for Satan. He is counting on us to pick the wrong role models, adopt bad habits, and behaviors.
In Peter, the Devil is compared to a prowling lion. The Scripture tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
So how do we fight back against this prowling lion? James 4:7 gives us a simple, yet powerful strategy. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” Let’s break down that verse. In this context, to submit means to humble yourselves to Christ and subject ourselves to His will. Once we take that step, God helps us resist Satan. So much so, in fact, that he flees from us. Think about that for a second. Submitting ourselves to God results in that prowling lion running away from us.
That’s because we have a much fiercer lion in our corner, Jesus, the Lion of Judah. And when the Devil tried to influence Christ with Scripture, he used the same tactic against the Devil, showing just how powerful a weapon the Word of God can be. This means we should also use Scripture to fight the prowling lion. That’s the result of choosing Jesus as your main influence. You can win against Satan.
RESPOND
1. Commit James 4:7 to memory.
