For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12

Christianity is not an unopposed faith—you have an enemy. You are not fighting against your relatives, people who disagree with you, or unbelievers, but the devil who is seeking anyone to devour. James 4:7 says, Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Too many Christians could not tell you of a time that they resisted the devil. If you ignore the devil, you won’t recognize the war that you are in here on earth. And how can you win a war that you are not aware of?

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Loving God will require that you resist the devil. The devil’s ultimate goal is to separate you from God, so when you do not resist the devil, you are missing out on the goodness that God has for you. So choose God’s way over the world by resisting every attack of the devil!

How can you choose God’s ways? To love God with all of your mind means to allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind daily. Often the devil will attack your thoughts and perceptions, and if your thoughts are not submitted to God, they are easily swayed. Your mind is a battleground that the devil would love to establish control over! You might say, “They’re just thoughts.” But your thoughts become your actions, actions become habits, and habits determine your destiny. Philippians 4: 8 says, Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy— meditate on these things. You cannot stop a worldly thought from coming in, but you can stop your mind from dwelling on it or receiving it.

God wants to use the church — that’s you — to demonstrate His power over the devil. Through Christ, not only is he defeated, but He has given that victory and that authority to you as a believer. God has given you the key of Jesus’ Name to unlock your authority over the devil!