Seventh-day Adventist® Church

Submission, Resistance and Change

I recently purchased a set of exercise resistance bands to enhance my at-home exercise sessions. These elastic bands create resistance that force the entire muscle group to work, thereby increasing muscular strength.

Within a few weeks of using them, I started to notice that I was becoming stronger, which then motivated me to continue.

This experience reminds me of James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (KJV). Spiritual growth comes from daily submitting and resisting. When we submit ourselves to the will of God, He will enable us to resist the temptations that come our way. The more we resist, the stronger we will become, and over time, with God's help, the devil will no longer have a hold on us in those areas of weakness.  However, we must remember that the enemy of our souls, will never stop trying to make us fall.

I am sure that you can think of a time when there was something in your life that you needed changed. Maybe you wanted to stop an unhealthy practise. At first it was difficult; you had those cravings and urges.  However, the more you resisted those urges, the stronger you became, and overtime, you were able to overcome that obstacle.

Remember Jesus resisted Satan through relying on the word of God. As we submit to God and meditate on His word, we will receive overcoming power.

What do you need to overcome today? Is it appetite, an addiction, spiritual apathy? Are you ready to be free? Then put your faith and confidence in God, and watch Him work miraculously in your life.

God bless you.