James chapter 4 verses 7-8 (NIV)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Thinking again today about what it means to submit to God. Submitting to God, in my opinion, means doing what God wants rather than what I want. Of course if we do that the devil won’t be pleased, and indeed the discouraging thoughts that may fill our minds as we make our choice as to what to do, will certainly have come from his direction. That’s why we need to resist. But the longer we weigh up the consequences of making the right choice, the more likely we are to waver. That’s why James counsels us not to be double minded. The closer we draw to God, the more likely we are to make the right decision.
Dear Lord,
Help me always to do these three things in my walk with You – by firstly drawing close to You will make it easier to submit to Your will, and thus resist the temptation that may come from the devil. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.