Make the Devil Scamper
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.
James 4:7 - MSG
It’s interesting that a lot of well-intentioned Believers forget the fact that there is a real devil who does his very best to interfere with our everyday lives. He lives in those quiet places like relationships and memories. And he is very subtle about his efforts of getting into our head and, yes, from time to time, our heart.
But there is a beautiful simplicity—and a fierce power—woven into today’s verse. James doesn’t give us a complicated battle plan for spiritual warfare. He gives us a simple solution to the pressures of the enemy. James gives us a sequence. A rhythm. A divine order that makes the enemy tremble. Yes, you can actually make the devil tremble in fear and flee from you.
One, before you even think about trying to run him off, before you ever lift a spiritual sword, before you ever rebuke a temptation, before you ever try to stand against the enemy—you bow. You bow your head and your heart before the Lord. You surrender. You willingly place yourself under the authority of God. It’s like a soldier in the army who obediently takes his place under the command of his captain and obeys. It is a conscious decision and choice to say, “Lord, Your way over my way. Your wisdom over my impulses. Your will over my desires.” Like the old song says, “Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way…”
And here’s a key that many Followers of Christ miss, submission is not weakness. It is alignment. It is the moment your heart, your mind, and your will come under the covering of God’s strength. And once you are aligned with Him, something shifts. You are no longer fighting for victory—you are fighting from the victory that has already been won. Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ places us in a position of victory.
So, now you stand. Now you push back. Now you refuse the lies, reject the bait, and shut the door on every whisper that tries to pull you away from God’s best. Resisting the devil is not passive. It is active. It is decisive. It is the moment you say, “No more access. No more foothold. No more influence.”
And here is the promise— the devil will flee from you. Not “might flee.” Not “maybe” he’ll flee. Not “if you’re strong enough to make him flee.” No, he will flee. He will run for the hills. He will scamper away like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. The devil will flee.
Why? Because a true Follower of Jesus Christ who is submitted to God and standing firm in faith is a threat to the kingdom of darkness. When you take your place under God’s authority, when you submit to the Lord, and then take your stand against the enemy, you are covered, strengthened, and backed by all the power of Heaven.
Remember this; the devil doesn’t just retreat—he scampers. He runs. He loses his grip and forfeits his ground. Then he goes and looks for someone else to “devour” as the Scriptures tell us. It’s when you understand this truth and walk in it, you will know the victory that is yours. But remember this as well; you have to take the sequence seriously. We bow to the Lord first. We stand our ground second, and then we watch the enemy scatter. We get to enjoy watching the devil scamper away in fear. We win.
There really is a war being waged every day for our hearts and our minds. If you would like to learn more about fighting the enemy off and winning the wars, you can learn more about it in my book, Spiritual Warfare; Practical Strategies for Living a Victorious Christian Life. You can find it here.
Prayer
Father, today I willingly place myself under Your authority. Align my heart with Your will and steady my steps in Your truth. Give me strength to resist every temptation and courage to stand firm against the enemy’s lies. Let Your power guard my life and make the devil flee as I walk in humble obedience to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen...
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For Continued Reflection
Don’t let today’s encouragement end here. Continue your journey with God through our collection of “Written Helps for Your Walk With the Lord.” These downloadable, Scripture-centered books and booklets are designed to help you grow in faith, find comfort in God’s promises, and spend meaningful time in fellowship with Him each day. Be sure to explore the collection here.
