Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a

roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the
faith…
1 Peter 5:8–9

- AUGUST 17 -

REMAIN STEADFAST IN THE

FAITH

When I was a teenager, I was taught that if I wanted to resist the devil, I had to rebuke him.
So whenever an evil thought came to my mind or I was tempted, I found myself saying, “I
resist you, devil, in Jesus’ name! I bind you, devil! Go away from me, devil! I rebuke you in
Jesus’ name!”

This went on until God showed me one day that though I had “resisted” the devil, I had
spent more time talking to him than to God! I was more conscious of the devil than of God
throughout the day.

I checked the Word of God and realized that we resist the devil not by focusing on resisting
him, but by being established in the faith that we are made right with God through Jesus’
blood, that we are the righteousness of God in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Yes, the devil will continue to remind you of your mistakes, failures and sins. And he will tell
you that because of these things, you cannot receive your healing, that you will have to pay
for your mistakes or that something bad will happen to your family. He will accuse you,
condemn you and try to persuade your heart to believe that he can do bad things to you.

But the truth is that the devil cannot enforce anything in your life if he cannot persuade your
heart. And your heart cannot be persuaded if it is “steadfast in the faith,” if it is established
in righteousness. God says that once you are established in righteousness, “You shall be
far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you”
(Isaiah 54:14).

So now that my heart is established in righteousness, I can boldly declare, “Yes, I may have
these problems in my life, but I am not guilty in God’s eyes. I am justified in God’s eyes by
faith because of what Christ has done. I am righteous by Jesus’ blood!” My friend, that is
how you resist the devil and become undevourable!