How Can We Resist the Devil?

When you think about the devil being like the lion on the front cover, he seems pretty scary, doesn’t he? God warns us that the devil is our enemy, and that we must resist (stand against) him. But how can we do that if he is so strong and scary? Here are two secrets to help you:

#1

Remember that God is in control of everything. In the book of Job it tells us how Satan (another name for “enemy”) had to ask God’s permission to hurt Job (Job 1:12; 2:6). So if we are living for God, we know that He allows the troubles that come to us. But the devil does have a lot of control over people who aren’t obeying God. The Bible calls him “the prince of this world”* (John 12:31) and says that he is the father of those that sin and tell lies (John 8:44). So the thing you should be scared of most is doing wrong, because that gives the devil power over you. The good news is that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and deliver us from the power of sin (1 John 3:8). And, in the end, the devil and all that follow him will be cast into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). Which side do you want to be on?

#2

The devil can’t hurt us if we wear God’s armor. Did you see the one animal that didn’t run away from the lion? Look again—how did it escape from being eaten? Yes, by hiding in its shell. In the same way, God has armor that will keep us safe from the devil. You can read about it in Ephesians 6:11-18. What should you do when the devil sneaks up with bad thoughts or tells you that you’ll be happier if you disobey? What about when he tries to scare you with fears and worries? The only way to win is to “resist steadfast in the faith.”* (1 Peter 5:9) Will you believe in God’s love and power more than anything else? Will you ask Him for help to do right no matter how hard it is? Remember, the devil can’t hurt you as long as you are obeying God. When God is our defense, we are always safe.