James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

When we do submit to God we will find ourselves being drawn closer to Him as we try to please Him more than pleasing the world.

We then find that we find it easier to turn away from sin because we can begin to see things God’s way and not just our own selfish way.

When we spend more time in God’s word and more time with Him we allow Him to do more in our lives and allow Him more control.

We can then stop trying to be a Christian in our spare time and being a full time Christian with God!

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

You may read half this verse and think that you can resist the devil… think again… read in context…

When we do submit to God we do things God’s way and not our own way. When we submit to God we listen to Him. When we submit to God we can then resist the devil.

It is having God in our lives that will make the devil flee and not us asking him to leave us alone; the devil will only flee from God and people who stick with God.

Psalm 32:9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Trying to guide a donkey without a bridle is quite hard work unless it has been pacified and trained. I can remember trying to do so and failing miserably!

Without us being pacified and trained we are just as difficult and obstinate as a donkey or horse as we run off away from God.

Do we really want to have God put a bridle on us and force us in the right direction every day; or are we going to listen and learn with humility so we can work with Him?