The Evil One in Your Life (Part 2)

Do these three things to be aware of and resist the enemy in your life:


1.  Realize it's not an option.  Remember, Peter is giving a command.  We don't have an option in war if we expect to make it out alive.  Make a decision right now to take your enemy into account.  Jesus taught his followers what we have come to know as the Lord's prayer.  In that prayer, Jesus takes our enemy into account with these words:


"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."


So in the model prayer Jesus taught us, our enemy is acknowledged.  Not worshipped or feared or focused on, but recognized as someone with whom we have to deal with until Jesus returns.  Jesus taught his followers to pray against our enemy.  Thus, Jesus himself makes it clear that we are to take him into account.


2.  Realize the devil is actively aware of you.  If you believe what Peter is saying, then you won't go a day without actively watching for and resisting your personal enemy.  If the police put out a bulletin saying there is serial killer in your neighborhood who is looking for people who match your description, how would this affect your awareness?  To know that a killer is actively looking for you would make you actively look for him. Not worship him.  Not focus your life on him.  But make you aware that you need to not put yourself in a position where he can harm you.  The same is true with the devil, "the murderer." 


3.  Actively submit to God's word to you.  When you are in active submission to God, you will know the devil when he comes.  He will try to get you to do the opposite of God's will in all things.  God told Adam and Eve that the day they ate the forbidden fruit, they would surely die.  The serpent told Eve the opposite, that she "would not surely die."  So by knowing what God said, Eve should have known to resist anything that contradicts what God said.  The same is true for you.  You are responsible to know what God is saying to you, and to resist anything that contradicts what God is saying to you.


First read the prayer below that I've written in bold print.


(Always read prayers before praying them.  Never just pray a prayer until you read it and see if it agrees with the scriptures, and if the Spirit wants you to pray it.)


If you agree with my prayer, then pray this prayer to resist the evil one in your life:


"Our Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus, and by Your Spirit, in agreement with Your word, I submit to you and resist the devil that he may flee from me and my family.  I draw near to You so that You may draw near to me.  Help me to be aware of and to resist my enemy, today and always.  I choose to believe Your words, and I refuse to accept anything that contradicts Your words, for anything that contradicts Your words is a lie from the father of lies, Satan himself. In Jesus name I pray.  Amen."