James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV)

Are you submitted to God?

You are in a war and the battlefield is in your mind. Your defense comes from you totally giving yourself over to the power and the authority of God the Father. There is no such thing as partial submission. 

Revelation 3:15-16 I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. 16 So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (TVT)

As you look at James 4:7-10, you will find guidance and direction to determine if you are submitting yourself to God. You will also find out how to submit if you are not. There are specific characteristics of a submitted life.  

1. You don’t govern yourself.

James 4:7a So submit to [the authority of] God. (AMP)

Strong’s definition for submit: NT:5293 hupotasso (hoop-ot-as’-so). It means to be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, be/make subject to/unto, be/put in subjection (to, under), submit one’s self unto. This word means you have voluntarily become someone’s slave. You have given them permission to dictate your will. There is not pride left in you, only the desire to obey God’s will.

2. You resist the devil, and the devil runs away.

James 4:7b Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. (AMP)

Strong’s definition for resist: NT:436 anthistemi (anth-is’-tay-mee). It means to stand against, i.e., oppose, resist, withstand. Our problem too often is that we are double minded, clinging both to our selfish desires and a desire to please God. We must clearly take a stand against the devil and let go of the desire that gives him power over us. He dangled before Jesus a partnership with him to accomplish God’s divine purpose. I am sure He wanted to eat because He was hungry. He knew He was both God and man; there was no need to prove it. Gaining recognition as a spiritual leader and ruler was not the plan of God for Jesus. These things would automatically flow out of the completion of His task. Jesus had a different path and method for achieving His goal. The devil takes honest and reasonable desires and twists them. He plays on our desires (James 1:14-15) and tries to convince us that using shortcuts is better than doing it God’s way. You resist the devil by not yielding to his temptations, saying “no” to him and “yes” to God. If you do, he will flee from you.

3. You love with a purified heart.

James 4:8b Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. (AMP)

Strong’s definition for wash:  NT:2511 katharizo (kath-ar-id’-zo); from NT:2513; to cleanse (literally or figuratively). Strong’s definition for purify: NT:48 hagnizo (hag-nid’-zo); from NT:53; to make clean, i.e. (figuratively) sanctify (ceremonially or morally), purify (self). James writes, “wash your hands.” What does this mean? He also says, “purify our hearts”. He distinguished between washing and purifying. You can wash your hands; however, only God can purify your heart. You must do your part. Washing your hands is another way of saying, “I will stop doing wrong”. “Purify your hearts, you double-minded,” is the second part of this directive. You must stop doing wrong (wash our hands), and then turn your will through repentance and God will (purify your heart). The double-mindedness must go; and it will if you truly repent. When you repent, your will is no longer divided. Your faith and love for God confirms it.

Often you are more sorry you got caught than you are for what you did. The sorrow should come from the realization that your heart was so hard you could commit this affront to God. It is not only morally wrong; it is also a personal rebellion against The One who loves you. The appropriate response is grief. It is more than acknowledging your sin; it is owning your responsibility for it.

4. You are humble in your thoughts, words, and deeds.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. (AMP)

Strong’s definition for humble: NT:5013 tapeinoo (tap-i-no’-o); from NT:5011. It means  to depress; figuratively, to humiliate (in condition or heart), to abase and bring yourself low. In order to be submitted to God, you must be humble. James discusses the things that keep you from being submitted like: selfishness, roots of pride, having an independent spirit, self-indulgence, placing yourself purposefully in situations to be tempted with sin, acting as if you know what’s good for you better than God, etc. 

If you are going to live a submitted life, you must live a lifestyle of evaluating yourself to find any rebellion (which is sin), acknowledge it (”confession”), and turn away from it (”repentance”). You can then continuously come before God as His servant.

Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:

Father, help me remain in the place I am in right now, in Your presence. I repent and ask You to forgive me for allowing distraction to pull my focus. Please help me focus my thoughts on Your love for me and the fact that Jesus died for me. You have taught me if I refuse to focus on what the enemy has set before me or the current issues in my life, the enemy will flee. It is my job to remove the platform the devil is standing on. I know I set up that platform when I remove You from the center of my life. I have to keep my mind on You. Your word tells me if I do, You will keep me in perfect peace, and the enemy cannot torment me. You have shown me what I need to do to keep my mind on You. I repent for not always obeying Your instruction. Even now, I recognize when I spend all of my time thinking and talking about my issues and my problems; I am being selfish and the time that I spent was unproductive. However, when I submit all of who I am to You, talk to You, and focus on You, I am engulfed in Your presence. I feel peace resting on me like a blanket and I thank You for it. You speak to me and You always answer my prayers. Sometimes You give me the answers to my issues. Sometimes You show me that the issue is me. However, You always guide me to a place of peace. To live in this place is my desire…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here: