ENEMY RESISTANCE
By Carolyn Dale Newell
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NKJV
When people speak to me (or any visually impaired person), I either respond cheerfully because I recognize the voice, Or I sound hesitant because I am uncertain whose voice it is. Discerning the voice of God isn’t easy. Many years passed after God saved me before I recognized His voice, in particular that still small voice.
But when Satan speaks, we usually hear him loud and clear. He vocalizes the fears and concerns we are fighting to overcome. He appeals to the old man, our flesh. In order to adhear to the correct voice, we need to follow the advice of James.
Submit to God. Obey God. Listen to God. A week prior to my Gatlinburg trip, I distinctly heard from the Lord. Empty myself. Fill up on God, and then begin writing. I bubbled with excitement about what God had in store for me on my writing retreat.
But when we arrived at the hotel, I began drowning in despair. The desk clerk alerted us to the park rangers who were tranquilizing the bears there. What? Iva and I had a bear encounter last year, but we were trusting God for our safety.
“Don’t go outside alone, especially with the dog.”
In horror, I gasped, “I am staying here alone. My husband is returning home.”
I unpacked as I debated on going home with my husband and forfeiting my time with God.
We went to get groceries, but I chose to wait in the car with Iva. In a dark parking lot, I found verses about fear and protection on my phone. While my hubby shopped, I spoke verse after verse over myself. Peace began to chase panic away. I called a friend who prayed Scripture over me.
When hubby opened the car door, I heard a tree frog. That was God’s exclamation point. The song of one tree frog had comforted me my first night at guide dog school in New York. Now, it consoled me here, especially when I heard some outside my mountain hotel room.
Speaking the Word of God and the Lord’s encouragement, I resisted the devil. If I had left, I would have defied God rather than being submissive.
For ten days, bears roamed, but we avoided them. God surrounded us with an army of angels.
Can you distinguish the voice of God? Which voice do you listen to? The voice of faith or the voice of fear. The voice of peace or the voice of panic.
As you pray, lean in to learn the voice of God. Intimacy with God resists intimidation from Satan. Then the enemy will flee.
Copyright 2018 Carolyn Dale Newell.
Originally posted on August 7, 2020 @ 3:10 am