James 4:8

Come close to God (with a contrite heart) and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your (unfaithful) hearts, you double-minded (people).

The more we turn away from the sinful distractions of the world, the easier it is for our hearts to stay clean and away from sin. The longer we stare at the unclean world, the more our minds will convince us that it is ok to participate in the compromise. The slope gets steep at the first step off the path as the devil can now barrage the brain with guilt, unworthiness, and shame, making us double-minded. Keep a guard on the heart and draw closer to God. 

James 4:7

So submit to (the authority of) God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him) and he will flee from you. 

It doesn’t say fight, yell, or cry. It says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” That means quoting some truth from scripture about the circumstance and reminding the devil of the authority given to us through Jesus. If he keeps talking, we are to keep speaking the word and praising the Lord. We must resist, and he will flee. 

Luke 10:19

Listen carefully: I have given you authority (that you now possess) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and (the ability to exercise authority) over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will (in any way) harm you. 

Christians must recognize the authority Jesus gave here on earth and walk in it. WE are to tread on sickness, lack, depression, and use our authority to remove them from our lives. Whatever the enemy tries to insinuate into our minds, WE are to cast out and cast down by using the word. Nothing will (in any way) harm you when we take a stand against the enemy in the Name of Jesus. 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives you do I give you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. (Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge).

When we know God is the answer to the problem, we can walk through the problem. Additionally, when God tells us to cast down fear and imaginations that cause worry, we know we don’t have to live in fear. Peace exists for us when we take it according to the word. Since the battle is won and the fight is over, let the perfect peace of Jesus give us courage and strength.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous (be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy); I have overcome the world. 

If we constantly seek comfort and avoid the distresses of life, we will be easily overcome in times of trouble. We must practice mental biblical toughness to answer the enemy and the trials that come. When we ground ourselves in the Word, we ground ourselves in the peace of God. God has given us instructions on how to deal with trouble. Open the bible and tell the enemy what God has done about the problem. 

Isaiah 26:4 

Trust (confidently) in the Lord forever (He is your fortress, your shield, your banner), for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock (the Rock of Ages).

God is the beginning and the end, possessing incomprehensible power which He uses for His people. When we trust in Him, doubts and worries leave our minds; we let God work instead of trying to fix everything ourselves. Trust confidently in the Lord and His promises.

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast (that is, committed and focused on You-in both inclination and character) because he trusts and takes refuge in You (with hope and confident expectation).

Peace only comes when pursued. Rejecting the world’s noisy strife, whispers, and contentions brings peace. If we let them, our minds may ruminate on offences influenced by the enemy. But rest and peace in God are the greater gain, drawing us closer to Him.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous (be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy); I have overcome the world.

Jesus gave us the power to overcome! It doesn’t mean that distress or suffering won’t come to us, but it does mean it can’t stay. We can take a stand and fight against the enemy using the authority given to us by Jesus. The more we practice our authority here on earth, the faster the enemy will leave. 

James 4:7

So submit to (the authority of) God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him) and he will flee from you. 

Take a stand against the enemy. Stop the thoughts when they start and use the authority Jesus has given you to make him leave. Speak against what he is trying to say and repeat the word to him. Jesus gave us power and authority, and whatever we bind on earth will be bound, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The weapons of our warfare are not physical. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.

The enemy will attack our minds with thoughts contrary to the word of God. We are to take those thoughts captive! How are we to respond to those thoughts by using the word and submitting ourselves to God’s will, resisting in the name of Jesus? We don’t have to sit there and be bombarded; we can use our authority, and the devil will flee.