Day 17 — Resist

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

— James 4:7–8 (BSB)

The Bible tells us that the devil is real. He is God’s enemy, and he wants to pull people away from God. He does it mostly with lies: God doesn’t really love you. You’re not good enough. That sin isn’t a big deal. Nobody will ever find out.

That might sound scary. But here’s the good news: the devil is not as strong as God. Not even close. He’s a created being, and Jesus has already defeated him on the cross. And today’s verse gives us a clear plan for how to deal with him.

Step 1: Submit to God. To submit means to put yourself under someone’s authority. It means saying, “God, You’re in charge of my life, not me.” This comes first. You can’t fight the devil in your own strength. But when you’re on God’s side, you’re on the winning team.

Step 2: Resist the devil. To resist means to push back, to say no. When the devil whispers a lie, you don’t have to believe it. When he tempts you to do wrong, you don’t have to go along. Remember how Jesus resisted? He used God’s Word: “It is written…”

And look at the promise: “he will flee from you.” To flee means to run away! Imagine that. When you stand on God’s side and say no, the enemy runs. He’s like a bully who backs down when someone stronger shows up. And the One standing with you is the strongest of all.

Step 3: Draw near to God. This is the best part. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Every step you take toward God, He comes toward you. The closer you are to Him, the safer you are.

Here’s a simple way to remember it: Say yes to God. Say no to the devil. Stay close to Jesus.

You don’t need to be afraid of the devil. You belong to Jesus, and “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Think about it: What’s a lie the devil might whisper to a kid your age? What truth from God’s Word answers it?

Try this: Take one step to “draw near to God” today: read a psalm, pray for five minutes, or sing a worship song.

Dear God, I submit to You. You are in charge of my life. Help me resist the devil’s lies and temptations. Thank You that he has to flee when I stand with You. I want to draw near to You, and I’m so glad You draw near to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.