Submit to God, Resist the Enemy

The journey of life, with its trials and triumphs, often leads us to moments where we confront forces far beyond our control. Whether these are external challenges or inner struggles, we are reminded that life’s true battle is not merely against the physical or the immediate, but against deeper, spiritual forces that seek to pull us from the path of righteousness. In such moments, two principles emerge as a guiding light: submission to God and resistance to the enemy.

These twin commands, found in the teachings of the Christian faith, are simple in wording but profound in their application. They call us to live lives rooted in humility and strength, to bow before the Almighty in recognition of His sovereignty, and to stand firm against the forces of evil that seek to derail our spiritual progress.

The Power of Submission

Submission, in its truest sense, is not weakness. Rather, it is the voluntary recognition of a higher authority, a deliberate act of placing one’s will in alignment with the will of God. To submit to God is to acknowledge that His wisdom far surpasses our own, that His plans for us are greater than what we could envision, and that His ways, though sometimes mysterious, are always for our good.

When we submit to God, we are not relinquishing our identity or freedom. On the contrary, we are stepping into the fullness of our potential by aligning ourselves with the Creator’s divine purpose. Submission requires trust—trust that God knows what is best for us, even when the path ahead seems unclear or challenging. It requires faith, the belief that His strength will carry us through when our own falters. Most importantly, submission brings peace, for when we surrender our burdens and anxieties to God, we are freed from the weight of trying to control what was never ours to command.

However, submission is not passive. It is not a resignation to fate or a form of spiritual inertia. To submit to God is to actively engage with His will, to seek His guidance through prayer, meditation, and the study of His word, and to live a life that reflects His values—compassion, justice, humility, and love. It is an ongoing process, a daily recommitment to placing God at the centre of our lives.

The Call to Resist

Just as submission to God strengthens us, so too does resistance to the enemy. The enemy, in this context, is not a mere adversary of flesh and blood, but the forces of darkness, temptation, and sin that seek to separate us from God’s love and purpose. To resist the enemy is to stand firm in the face of temptation, to reject the lies and deceptions that would lead us astray, and to remain steadfast in our commitment to righteousness.

Resistance requires vigilance. The enemy’s tactics are often subtle, appealing to our baser instincts—pride, greed, anger, and fear. It whispers that submission to God is weakness, that the pursuit of selfish desires is the path to true happiness. Yet, those who have walked the path of faith know that such promises are hollow. The pleasures of the world may offer temporary satisfaction, but they leave the soul empty, yearning for something more substantial, more eternal.

To resist the enemy is not to rely on our own strength alone. Scripture reminds us that we are not called to fight this battle in isolation. God equips us with the tools necessary for spiritual warfare—the armour of faith, the shield of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. These are not mere metaphors but profound spiritual realities. When we immerse ourselves in prayer, seek God’s presence, and fill our hearts and minds with His truth, we are fortified against the attacks of the enemy.

The Balance of Submission and Resistance

The power of these principles lies in their balance. Submission to God without resistance to the enemy would leave us vulnerable, too passive in the face of spiritual danger. Conversely, resistance without submission would lead to self-reliance, where we attempt to face the enemy on our own terms, inevitably leading to exhaustion and defeat. It is only by submitting to God’s authority and leaning on His strength that we are empowered to resist the enemy effectively.

This balance is beautifully encapsulated in James 4: