Satan and his demons are finite, created beings. God is more powerful than the devil!

The devils do not want you to know any of this.

They want you to believe that they don’t exist. If they can’t pull that off, they want you to think that God is busy elsewhere, leaving them free to torment you at will.

But the truth is: God is right there with you. God has always been with you and He always will be.

You may ask, “If God is right there, why does He allow this to happen to me?

I can think of several factors. I’m going to quote two verses, then use them to answer the question.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

1. Actually, God is helping you. He’s restraining the devil from destroying you RIGHT NOW! God will allow the devil to go only so far, and no farther. If you want to see an example of this in the Bible, read Chapter 1 of the book of Job. Notice how God restrains Satan.
2. He has given each of us a free will, therefore He will not intervene uninvited. The devils take advantage of that TO THE MAX!
3. Notice the first part of James 4:7. It speaks of submission; obedience. (More about that below).
4. Notice: Psalm 46:1 says, “God is OUR refuge and strength”. The word “our” refers to those who have chosen to be obedient to God.
5. And: you have to ASK! Recall: “…You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2)
6. Also: God may be using the trial you are under to strengthen your faith in Him. (See James 1:2-4 directly below.)

Everything Is A Test!

² Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

You probably think of these aggravating circumstances as just random stuff that “just happens”, right? But God uses those trials to strengthen your faith in Him.

Inside of every trial is an opportunity to submit to God’s authority, trust Him, and respond in obedience to Him. That’s what God is longing to see in each one of us.

But, if you’re like I used to be, you probably are totally unaware that God has anything to do with the events of everyday life, right? But the reality is: God is so near to you, and He’s longing for you to believe and act upon these things that I’m telling you.

Things such as submitting to His authority.

On the subject of submitting to God, I wrote down this list of areas of obedience that we all struggle with.

attitude; anger; blaming; complaining; compromise; contentment; covetousness; defiance; discipline; dress�how we dress; entertainment choices; envy;�food choices; excuses�making excuses vs. taking ownership;�haughty vs. a humble heart; love; parenting; patience; physical fitness;�pride; procrastination; rebellion; resentment; relationship based on performance vs. acceptance; repentance; revenge; selfishness; stewardship (financial, time, talent etc.); stubbornness; ungodly /lustful thoughts and actions; unbelief�refusing to trust God; unforgiveness;

Don’t be overwhelmed by that list. God does not demand perfection. He knows we’re not perfect.

What Is God Looking For?
He’s looking for steady progress in the right direction. You and I can do that!

And — good news — we don’t have to do it by our own strength!

Here’s how God helps those who turn to Him in faith and obedience:

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). (James 4:6 AMP)

See that? POWER of the Holy Spirit.

How reassuring it is to know that God will not allow the devils to trouble us beyond our ability to endure.

Satan is a very powerful being—the second most powerful in the universe. But he is nevertheless a finite, created being.

Satan can’t be everywhere; he is not all-powerful; he is not all-knowing. Plus, being the bullies that they are, Satan and his demons run from the greater strength of God just as cockroaches run and hide from the light.

In contrast, God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present. He knows the end from the beginning. God is in charge, and will protect those who turn to Him.

Jesus said this:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus gave you peace. If you don’t have it, you’ve given it up needlessly. The devil has stolen it from you.

Ah, but now you know how to get it back!

DO IT!

PRAYER: “Thank You, Lord, for the comforting reassurance that there is no problem the enemy can cause that You can’t handle. One thing I know: You are in charge!”

~Jan

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