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Has this ever happened to you?

You buy something and the manufacturer has written on the box these words, Some Assembly Required. When you open the box, if your product has been packaged well, everything you need will be neatly presented along with clear directions on how to assemble. However, I think I can safely suggest that we have all bought items that when the box is opened, loose screws and various other things tumble out of the box, along with a crumpled up piece of paper we confuse with packing material, when, in fact, it is our list of directions for assembling our goods!

One activity I am growing to really enjoy is making quilts. It is my desire to try and leave something for each of my precious children and grandchildren made from my hands that, hopefully, will one day be a treasure to them. As I get to work on my projects, I have found there is a systematic process that must be followed or I will not be happy with the end result. So, before I begin any new challenge, I read ALL of the instructions and list them, if not on paper then in my mind, Steps 1, 2, 3 and so on. If I do this intentionally, I am usually happy in the end that I followed the directions and did everything of which I was given knowledge to do.

In many Christian gatherings, I have heard very well-meaning people quote Scripture from James: Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

While this is a powerful Biblical truth, it is only one part of God’s instruction. As a matter of fact, it is actually Step 2 of a three step process!

Please look closely to the Scripture passage leading into this writing.

Step 1: Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Step 2: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Step 3: Come near to God and he will come near to you. [Emphasis mine]

To speak or act on resisting the devil, without including the whole Scripture passage, is like trying to put together an important project with human intuition only. I think we can all agree that Step 2 of resisting the Devil sounds like a powerful action but friend, without following all of the steps given to us by God, we have no power at all!

Father God, teach me how I am to “submit” to You; to allow You to lead me even before I need to react to any of the devil’s schemes so that I am completely prepared for such a battle. Then, as I “come near to [You],” I am able to trust, that, my resistance is rooted in Your strength and not mine alone. AMEN

To The One Who resisted Satan on the cross, Jesus…AND WON!!