7 December | Teens
«Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you….Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.» James 4: 7,8
Have you ever thought that every day we face a battle against evil? It's true! The devil is always trying to make us choose the wrong path. But how can we overcome him? James 4:7 and 8 has the answer: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” This means that, in order to flee from the devil, we need to draw close to God! But how do we do this in practice?
Submitting to God is more than a moment of Bible reading or prayer in the morning; it's a constant connection with Him throughout the day. With every choice, we have the opportunity to seek God. If we face doubts, we can ask for His guidance. It's always about seeking to do His will, not ours. If something good happens, it's a time to give thanks. This continuous connection with God strengthens our relationship with Him and builds a shield against the devil's temptations and deceptions.
Keeping God in our thoughts and hearts throughout the day brings us closer to Him. Every moment we are aware of His presence is a step towards the light and away from the shadows of evil. Closeness to God is our greatest defense. It fills our hearts and minds with His wisdom and peace and guides us to make choices in line with His will.
Take Action
Today we're going to do an experiment with a flashlight. At night, in your dark room, turn on the flashlight. Start away from it and slowly move closer. Notice how everything becomes clearer as you get closer to the light. This shows in a practical way how, when we get closer to God, who is the light, bad things and darkness move away from us!