“and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands. ” 1 Samuel 17:47
Sometimes life seems like an unending succession of struggles. Even the strongest believer can grow weary. Satan assigns his demons to study us and learn our weaknesses. They know better than to try to tempt me to overeat with peppers (I loathe peppers), but they will try to lure me to overindulge with pretzels and chocolate. If I try to fight off demonic strategies, I will lose every time because my flesh is very weak. It is easy for me to fall for the lie that food of any sort will satisfy me. When I give into temptation, the enemy launches into accusations against me and seeks to deceive me into believing the lie that I will never walk in victory.
How can I possibly overcome an enemy that is clearly stronger, smarter and craftier than I am? When I recognize the attack of Satan through temptation, I have to consciously choose to yield the battle to the Lord Jesus. This can be done by simply declaring aloud, “I have been crucified with Jesus; He is the One who lives through me; this battle is His not mine!” The level of temptation will plummet as the demons scatter from Jesus. This strategy also works with the accusing thoughts and lies that the enemy places in my mind through the power of sin. Paul tells us in Romans 7 that the power of sin still dwells in my body, but because I have died to sin, it is no longer my master. I don’t have to do what sin tempts, accuses or deceives me to do or think. I can take my thoughts captive and give them over to Jesus to conquer them through me.
The verse quoted above comes from the account of David’s defeat of Goliath. David won the battle the moment he yielded it to the LORD. The same is true for all of those who are in Christ. What Goliath’s are you facing? Know this, beloved, every battle that you fight, you will lose; every battle you give to Jesus, He wins!