Introduction

Few promises in Scripture are as concise, powerful, and misunderstood as this:

“…submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” –  James 4:7

This is not merely poetic language—it is a spiritual law.
It describes why the enemy presses you, how he gains influence, and what unlocks God’s power to make him flee.
To understand it, we must understand what the devil does, what is happening inside us, and why submission is the key that activates spiritual authority.

What Is Going On With the Devil—and With Me?

The devil is a very real and active adversary who seeks to distract us from God and His purpose, steal the things we love, kill us before our time, and destroy every good thing in God’s creation.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy….” – John 10:10

He and his cast of demons operate in very predictable patterns and attack our unique vulnerabilities.  Our opportunity is to understand his methods and guard against them while we address our specific vulnerabilities.

“…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” — 2 Corinthians 2:11

His primary weapons are lies, distortions, accusations, and agitations.

“When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” — John 8:44b

They work to influence and corrupt any parts of our mind, will and emotions we leave vulnerable to them; These include our identity, purpose, desires, emotions, beliefs, and thought patterns.

They often gain access through emotional wounds or trauma, and over time work to build elaborate patterns of false beliefs, recurring patterns of thoughts, distorted perspectives, elevated emotional sensitivities. This process results in undesired behaviors that, if left unchecked, build on each other to destroy relationships, destroy our ability to function in society, and leave us in desperation.  

What can they attack?  – The devil can attack anything we hold onto and try to control ourselves rather than giving to God and trusting Him.

The enemy can only exploit what is not submitted to God. Submission removes the “handles” the devil pulls, and the “buttons” the devil pushes and realigns us under God’s truth, authority, and protection.

Why Do I Need to Submit to God?

Adam and Eve rebelled against God by deciding to eat of the forbidden fruit. They were changed by that self-centered decision, they became self-conscious. This was not 

and introduced sin Submission is the doorway to divine authority, clarity, and freedom. Without it, resistance is weak, emotions dominate, lies feel believable, and temptation gains traction. With submission, God’s truth replaces lies, His authority becomes our authority, and His peace displaces spiritual chaos.

Why Is Submission So Important?

Submission restores the designed order of creation: God → Identity → Desires → Actions → Fruit → Purpose.

When self replaces God, this order collapses. Submission realigns us with who God is, who we are, and why we were created.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…” — Matthew 11:29, NKJV

Submission activates resistance. Resistance activates authority. Authority makes the devil flee.

How Do I Submit Myself to God? Principles & Best Practices

Submission is not passive but an intentional, daily alignment under God’s rule. Below are the core biblical practices:

A. Submit Your Will

Pray, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Let God have the final say in decisions and surrender outcomes.

B. Submit Your Identity

Reject identity built on wounds or performance; declare who you are in Christ daily.

C. Submit Your Thoughts

Test every thought, take thoughts captive, and replace destructive thinking with Scripture.

D. Submit Your Desires

]Confess competing desires, ask God to reorder your loves, and use fasting to weaken attachments.

E. Submit Your Emotions

Bring emotions honestly to God, align them with truth, and grow in forgiveness and restraint.

F. Submit Your Behaviors

Stop known sin immediately and build habits of prayer, worship, and obedience.

G. Submit Your Circumstances

Release control, trust God’s timing, and declare His ownership over every situation.

H. How Can I Tell If I’m Really Submitted?

Submission isn’t a feeling—it is revealed in what rules your choices. Use this table to locate unsubmitted areas of your life and surrender them to God.

Declaration of Submission and Spiritual Authority

Lord, I submit myself fully to You as my God and my rightful Lord. I yield my thoughts, my heart, my desires, my will, and my actions to Your authority and Your Word. I acknowledge that the devil is a real and active enemy, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, but he has no rightful claim over any area I submit to You.

Therefore, in obedience to Your Word, I resist him. I stand firm in faith, refusing every lie, accusation, temptation, and disturbance he brings. He has no power over me except what I once allowed—but now I submit every part of my life to You.

As I draw near to You, the enemy must flee, for the Spirit of the Lord dwells within me, surrounds me, and strengthens me. Your presence is my refuge. Your Word renews my mind. Your power guards my life.

Clothed with the armor of God, I choose obedience, truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the living Word of God as my weapon and shield.

I declare that the enemy has no place, no foothold, no authority, and no permission in my life. Every scheme of darkness is exposed and defeated by the light of Christ in me.

Lord, Your presence fills me. Your truth guides me. Your power sustains me. I belong to You, and I walk in the victory Jesus has already won.

As it is written, so let it be in me. I speak this, and I stand in this, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Where Can I Learn More?

A. Scripture Study

• James 4 (context of humility, cleansing, double-mindedness)
• 1 Peter 5 (humble → resist → devil flees)
• Ephesians 6 (armor of God)
• Romans 12 (renewing the mind)
• Matthew 4 (Jesus submits → resists → defeats Satan)

B. Books

• The Bondage Breaker — Neil Anderson
• Victory Over Darkness — Neil Anderson
• Mere Christianity — C.S. Lewis
• The Pursuit of God — A.W. Tozer
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry — John Mark Comer

C. Practices That Build a Submitted Life

• Daily surrender declarations
• Journaling root loves & ungodly beliefs
• Confessing and replacing lies with truth
• Fasting
• Spiritual mentorship & accountability
• Worship, stillness, silence, Scripture meditation

Final Encouragement

Submission is not loss—it is liberation.
It is realignment with your created purpose and your spiritual authority in Christ.
When you submit, God will move.
When God moves, the devil flees.