What Does a Life of Victory Really Look Like?
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7 (NIV)
If you’ve ever felt like the Christian life is a fight — you’re right. It is. But here’s the good news: God has already told you how to win.
James 4:7 gives us the blueprint for a life of victory, and it comes down to two commands. Just two. But if you get these right, everything changes.
The First Call: Submit to God
The word submit is one some believers have quietly removed from their vocabulary. We don’t like it. It feels like losing. But the Greek word hupotasso is actually a military term. It means to line up under rank, to get into proper order — like a soldier falling in under the command of his officer.
Here’s what that means for you and me: we are either submitted to God’s will or to self-will. And here’s what most people miss: self-will is exactly what the devil wants for your life. Because when you follow your own plan apart from God, you are following Satan’s plan for your life, whether you realize it or not.
This is a question of Lordship. Who is really in charge? Can I do what I want, or do I follow what God says?
When we line up under the authority of the Lord of our lives, nothing will stop us from fulfilling His plan and purpose. If we’re to have victory over the enemy in this life, it starts right here — submitting to the Savior.
So let me ask you plainly: Is Jesus your Lord?
The Second Call: Resist the Devil
Now here’s where it gets practical. James doesn’t just say submit — he says resist.
But we need to understand something. We cannot resist the enemy in our own strength. The devil is not scared of you. He is not scared of me. But he is terrified of God in us. Satan doesn’t quiver when we try to fight him with willpower and good intentions. He quivers when we stand against him, clothed in the authority of Jesus Christ.
Satan is the ruler of the realm of darkness, but don’t give him more credit than he deserves. He is not omnipresent. He cannot be everywhere at once like God is. He has a host of demons at his disposal, ready to follow his orders, but his power is limited, and his defeat is certain.
The word resist in Greek means “to stand against,” “to oppose,” “to hold your ground.” And here’s what makes this verse so powerful: the verb is in the aorist tense and the imperative mood. That means this is not a suggestion. It is a direct command from God. You must resist the enemy.
It means drawing a line in the sand and telling the enemy: “I oppose your rule and reign in my life.“ You have no authority here.
And look at the promise that follows: “and he will flee from you.” Not walk away. Not back off slowly. Flee. The devil runs when a submitted, Spirit-filled believer stands up and says, “Not today.”
Draw the Line Today
Don’t wait until Sunday. Don’t wait until things get worse. Start right now.
Pray this out loud if you need to:
God, I submit to You and Your plan for my life. I line up under Your authority. Satan, I stand against whatever scheme you have to draw me away from God. You have no place here. I resist you in the name of Jesus — and you must flee.
That’s the life of victory. Not a life without battles — but a life where you know who’s in command and whose side you’re fighting on.
Keep Looking Up!
Heaven is closer than you think.
May God bless your day.
Related devotionals: What is spiritual warfare? · What demons do to Christians · Our position in Christ
Want more from Pastor Rodney?
If today’s devotional spoke to your heart, my books carry these same themes deeper. Stories of God moving in ordinary lives, scripture for tired pastors and weary parents, and steady reminders that heaven is closer than you think.