Good ole James, half of the Sons of Thunder Duo, has a way of bringing things sharply into focus and making it a bit uncomfortable.
 
Most of us would likely prefer to keep spiritual warfare at arm’s length, keep it in the invisible realms where we can talk about demons, powers, attacks, and cosmic conflict without looking too closely at our own hearts.

But apparently, that’s not James’s plan.
 
By the time we get to “resist the devil”, he’s already instructed us regarding arguments, jealousy, selfish desire, pride, and divided loyalty. This is starting to feel more like a self-diagnosis than being equipped for spiritual war.
 
He starts off asking about the wars, or we could say quarrels, among one another. He rightly identifies their source as not coming from the outside, but from internal desires at war within ourselves.
 
It’s obvious from the passage that James believes in the existence of the devil and that he uses our desires to lure us to temptation and cause strife, but notice what he places before resistance: “Submit to God.”

We learn here that Spiritual warfare isn’t rooted in strength, education, or fascination with the spiritual realm. It’s rooted in allegiance.
 
We might expect James to make much ado about the dark forces out there, but he doesn’t. He calls us to notice where our own loyalties are and where they’ve become divided. So often we want God, but we still want the world. We want peace, but are still willing to fight for what we think will satisfy us.This is where spiritual warfare gets practical.
 
Spiritual warfare simply comes down to resistance. Sometimes resistance means confessing instead of protecting our pride and reputation. Sometimes it means refusing jealousy, surrendering some desire, or drawing near to God when our own shame tells us to hide. It’s not flashy or dramatic, but it is powerful.
 
Jesus resisted temptation in exactly the same way. When Satan offered Hi power without obedience, glory without suffering, and provision without trust, He remained faithful to Father, resisting the devil and instructing him to leave.
 
James calls you and me into that same way of life. Submit to God and draw near to Him in humility.
 
That’s it.

Where do you see competing desires in your life creating conflict in your own heart right now? What would submission to God look like in that specific area today?

Father, bring to light every place in my heart where my loyalty has become divided. Teach me to submit to You before I try to resist anything else. Draw me near when pride, temptation, or shame would pull me away. Amen.

“Submitting this part of my life to God means __________________.”