Jesus’ 1/2 brother, James, who wrote one of the books of the New Testament, said:  “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  But how do you resist the devil?  Here are 4 steps:

1)  Recognize that there are spiritual forces working in your heart, mind, and environment to lure you into self-destructive thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.  Because those forces are working against you, they are not from you — but are alien intruders sent by the enemy of your soul, to allure you and entrap you in a downward and destructive spiral. You can’t resist what you are unaware of.  So be aware and be ware of any desires, thoughts, attitude, feelings, cravings, and/or compulsions that try to seduce or coerce you into self-focus, negativity, or moral rebellion.

2) Insist that those forces back off!  Rise up against them with all your power.  Use every weapon you can to insist that they get out of your life.  Insist with will power.  Use prayer. Insist with faith. Use Bible reading. Insist in the name of Jesus. Use self-help books. Insist by repentance. Use confession.  Insist with affirmations. Use accountability. Use a support group/recovery group.  Insist by Scripture memorization. Use a participatory church group. Insist by fasting.  Use honesty and openness.

3) Persist in your insisting.  Never stop.  Not even for a moment.  You will lose some battles and get knocked down sometimes, finding yourself entrapped; but don’t stay there. Rise up like a man (or a woman) and fight your way out.  This is combat!  Spiritual warfare!  Don’t wimp out.  Don’t say “I can’t stop this.”  Don’t make excuses.  Don’t be a passive slave dominated by desires.  Don’t roll over and play dead.  Never quit insisting and demanding that your spiritual (emotional, psychological) enemies leave you in Jesus’ name!

4) Never think that you have won the war.  You win battles, but your soul’s enemy never gives up.  So when you begin to experience victory, don’t lay down your arms.  Be aware of pride, of thinking that you are secure, that you have overcome.  Insist that pride stay away from you.  Persist in pushing pride away, because no matter how successful you feel that you have been in overcoming your spiritual battles, you are only one step away from falling back into an even worse conditions than you came from.