Time and time again, God’s gifts and provision never cease to amaze me.  He calls us into a relationship with Him and yet He does all the heavy work.  Let’s look at a few examples.

James 4:7-8a (NIV) commands, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”  Have you ever pictured this verse in your mind?  The picture is so surprising to me, I actually find it comical.  Enter the believer.  This is a person who has submitted to God, or more literally, placed their life under God’s arrangement.  Then the devil approaches with his attacks and temptations.  Is the believer commanded to advance against and overtake the devil?  No.  The believer is called to resist.  “Resist” is a compound word in Greek which literally means to stand, opposite or against.

Resisting is an act of refusing to be moved and holding one’s ground.  When a believer resists, we are told that the devil will flee from him or her.  It is as if the devil is so accustomed to people caving to him that the very act of someone resisting him terrifies him, and he runs.  The devil recognizes that flesh is easy prey, as it is weak and vulnerable to his schemes.  If someone is able to resist him, it is proof that the person is sustained by the power of God.

Now let’s look at Ephesians, where Paul ends his letter with a similar encouragement.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV

Again, the believer is called to stand.  The strength and ability to stand comes from God and His mighty power.  Our job is to stand and watch God do the heavy work.

Jumping forward to Revelation, we see Christ forming an army as He prepares for the great battle against the nations.

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Revelation 17:14

The battle takes place in Chapter 19.  One would expect an epic battle such as is found in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or The Lord of the Rings.  Instead, when the armies face each other, the army of the nations is completely wiped out by one single warrior.  A sword comes from Christ’s mouth and He defeats them all.  On His own.

If you are struggling, feeling the pressure to cave to desires or the ways of the world around you, take heart in that you do not need to fight the fire or defeat lions.  Your role is to take your stand.  Draw near to God, and in that place, stand.  Hold your ground.  Then watch what God does.  Sometimes God doesn’t save us from the fire or the lions.  Instead, He meets us in the fire, in the den.  Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego took their stand and would not be pushed back (Daniel 3; 6).  God met them in their time of pressure and He did the heavy work.

When we faithfully stand, God reveals Himself to us more clearly.  We learn more about Him, His character, abilities, and desires.  Imagine if Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego had not taken their stand.  What an experience they would have missed!  They would not have experienced the God who walks WITH His people IN the flames.  And their lost experience would be our loss as well.  God stories are meant to be shared and passed down.  God’s power in our lives is to be an example and encouragement for those around us and for generations to come.

As you feel weak, overwhelmed, or pressured, pray for the strength to simply stand.  Draw near to Him, take your stand, and watch how He works.

Scriptures to encourage you in your stand with God:
1 Peter 5:6-11
Daniel 3
Daniel 6
Ephesians 6:10-20
Revelation 19:11-21