Monday afternoon I struggled with doubt, some anger, and not a little frustration.  It took me a little while, but I realized I was being tempted by the adversary who was trying to steal my joy through a lack of faith.  After a little while the passage from James 4:7-8a came to me, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  So I resisted… by talking at (Not to) him.  Here’s what I said…

Satan, I know you are like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  I know you are great in power (For now).  I know you are relentless in your attacks and tempting me to stumble… HOWEVER…

You well need to remember a few things… the most important of which is that you have no more power over me than God allows.  You must get His permission to do everything you do.  My God has you by the collar and you cannot move one iota left, right, forward, or back but by His will.  You cannot do anything but that God absolutely controls.  You may have great power… you may be the god (Little “g”) of this world… you may be the prince of the power of the air… but “Greater is He that is in me” than are you.  Oh how that must infuriate you… and I rejoice in that!

Everything you attempt to harm, hurt, or destroy me… my family… friends… or church results in the opposite of what you intend (Which is our holiness and sanctification).  You have been defeated.  Your destruction was written down and determined before you were created and there is nothing you can do about it.  You well remember how many times Jesus My Savior & God bound & embarrassed you!  The most important of which is when Christ crushed your head when he resurrected Himself from the dead.

Remember also that one day you will be finally and forever defeated… bound in chains for eternity… in the absolute bottom of the bottomless pit.  Then you will be the least of all the least.  You will be less than the least of all demons.  The least of those in hell will be over you.  All those in the Lake of Fire with you will wonder how you could have at one time been so powerful, yet have fallen so far.  Your torment will start as unbearable and increase exponentially forever and ever without any relief.  And you know what I’m saying is true because God Almighty has decreed it!

No matter what you attempt… what you try… what you scheme to do, your plans are laid open.  I am not ignorant of your schemes.  My God does not allow you to do anything to me, or any other believer, that we cannot overcome.  Did you hear that?  Every test and/or temptation you throw our way GOD gives us Himself… His Son… and Holy Spirit so that we defeat you… EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Also remember that just as Jesus prayed for Peter… that his faith would not fail… and that he would strengthen other Christians, so too the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself pray for me… and all other believers!  There is NOTHING you have done… are doing… or can ever do that will separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus!  NOTHING! 

So in the face of all that you are attempting right now to get me to doubt my God… His love… His goodness… and His great power, and BECAUSE God gave me clear instruction how to overcome you and your temptations (Go read James 4:7-8 again), I am going to verbally praise, worship, and glorify my God!  The LORD rebuke you!

Then I played several of my favorite praise and worship songs as helps to lift up the name of Jesus.

And Satan left.  Probably for a more opportune time mind you… but he left me as I worshipped my God!  Thank you Lord Jesus!