Overcoming
Temptation is something we all encounter. From worry, to anger, to lust, to pride, to fear, to bitterness, to doubt, to judgmentalism. I may not have listed yours. How can we walk in victory and avoid being ensnared by the devil? “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
I once focused on resisting the devil by giving daily attention to certain spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible study. You know, pray harder, read more. Those things are certainly beneficial. But my greatest measure of success came when I began drawing nigh to God by knowing, seeking, and loving Jesus Christ. Instead of prayer and Bible study being duty, it became a means of devotion to the person of Christ. Instead of making resisting the devil my priority, pursuing Christ became my passion. When Christ becomes our passion, the devil tucks tail and flees!
