The Power of Position 2.1.26

February 4th, 2026

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

Spiritual exhaustion often has less to do with how hard we’re fighting and more to do with where we’re standing. James makes it clear that pride puts us in direct opposition to God Himself. The language is sobering—God doesn’t simply dislike pride; He actively resists it, positioning Himself like an army drawn up for battle. When we insist on control, self-sufficiency, or comfort over obedience, we unknowingly fight against the very One we’re asking for strength.

James offers a better way: humility through submission. Submission isn’t weakness or passivity—it’s a deliberate decision to trust God’s authority over our instincts and emotions. Notice the order James gives: submit to God, then resist the devil. Authority flows from alignment. When we submit first, we resist not in our own strength, but standing firmly in God’s power.

True submission reaches beyond Sundays. It shows up when God’s Word overrides our feelings, when obedience costs convenience, and when faithfulness is practiced in unseen moments. Resistance often looks ordinary—walking away from temptation, choosing silence over gossip, seeking accountability, and saying no when no one is watching. Yet these small, faithful acts carry eternal weight.

James promises that when we resist the devil from a place of submission, he will flee. Not because we are strong, but because we are standing under God’s authority. Peace, endurance, and spiritual strength return when we stop fighting from the wrong position and place ourselves humbly under the grace God so freely gives.

REFLECT |

Where might pride be quietly draining your spiritual strength?
Are there areas where your feelings have been overriding God’s Word?
Who or what are you truly submitted to in your daily decisions?

BIBLE VERSES

Key Verses are denoted with an *

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DAY 1 | WHEN GOD FEELS LIKE THE OPPOSITION

Have you ever felt like you're fighting an uphill battle in your spiritual life? Like every step forward feels exhausting and every victory is short-lived? You're not alone. Many believers find themselves spiritually drained, wondering why following God feels so hard. The truth is, sometimes we're fighting battles from the wrong position. When pride creeps into our hearts, we unknowingly place ourselves in opposition to the very God we're trying to serve. Pride doesn't just block our blessings - it puts us at war with our Creator. But here's the beautiful truth: God doesn't oppose us to crush us, but to save us. His opposition to our pride is actually His love in action, redirecting us back to the place where we can receive His abundant grace. Think of a loving parent who stands firm against a child's dangerous behavior - not to harm, but to protect. God's grace isn't just forgiveness; it's His supernatural power given to undeserving people like you and me. It's the strength to do what we cannot do on our own. When we recognize that our exhaustion might be coming from fighting against God rather than with Him, we can begin to find the rest our souls desperately need. Today, consider whether pride has positioned you as God's opponent rather than His beloved child. His grace is waiting to transform your struggle into strength.

BIBLE VERSE |
'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.' - Proverbs 16:18

REFLECTION QUESTION |
In what areas of your life might pride be causing you to resist God's authority rather than receive His grace?

QUOTE |
"Pride doesn't just block blessings, it puts me and you at conflict with the Creator himself."

PRAYER |
Father, help me recognize where pride has crept into my heart and positioned me against You. I don't want to fight You - I want to receive Your grace. Show me how to humble myself before You today. Amen.

DAY 2 | THE CHOICE TO BOW DOWN

Submission gets a bad reputation in our culture. We often see it as weakness, as giving up control, or as losing our identity. But what if submission to God is actually the strongest choice we can make? True submission isn't about becoming a doormat or losing your voice. It's about making a conscious decision to place yourself under God's authority because you trust His heart, His ways, and His perfect order for your life. It's recognizing that the Creator of the universe might just know better than you do. Submission means God doesn't just get your Sundays - He gets your Monday morning decisions, your Wednesday afternoon frustrations, and your Friday night temptations. It's when God's Word overrides your feelings, when obedience matters more than your comfort. This isn't a one-time decision but a daily choice. Every morning, you get to decide: Will I trust God's way or my way? Will I let His truth guide me or will I rely on my limited understanding? The beautiful thing about choosing submission is that it positions you to receive everything God wants to give you. When you stop fighting for control and start trusting His control, you'll discover a peace and strength you never knew was possible. Submission isn't surrender to defeat - it's surrender to victory.

BIBLE VERSE |
'But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."' - James 4:6

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What would it look like for you to give God authority over the areas of your life you've been trying to control?

QUOTE |
"Submission is not weakness. It's a choice. It's placing yourself under God's authority because you trust his heart and his ways and his order."

PRAYER |
Lord, I choose to submit to Your authority today. Help me trust Your heart and Your ways, even when I don't understand. Give me the courage to let You lead in every area of my life. Amen.

DAY 3 | THE RIGHT ORDER OF BATTLE

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have victory over temptation while others struggle constantly? The secret isn't in trying harder - it's in fighting from the right position. James gives us a specific order: submit to God first, then resist the devil. This isn't random advice; it's a strategic battle plan. Who you're submitted to determines what authority you're resisting with. You cannot effectively resist Satan while living in rebellion to God. Many of us want God's help without God's authority. We want Him as a consultant but not as Lord. We want His power to overcome our struggles, but we don't want to surrender the areas of our lives where we think we know better. But here's the truth: you stand no match against Satan by yourself. The enemy is too cunning, too experienced, and too determined. However, with God, Satan stands no match. There's no contest when you're fighting from a position of submission to the Almighty. This means before you try to resist that temptation, that habit, or that destructive pattern, you first need to make sure you're properly positioned under God's authority. Are you submitted to Him in your relationships, your finances, your time, your decisions? When you fight from the right position - submitted to God - resistance becomes possible, and victory becomes inevitable.

BIBLE VERSE |
'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' - James 4:7

REFLECTION QUESTION |
Are there areas where you've been trying to resist temptation while still holding back submission to God in that same area?

QUOTE |
"You cannot resist the enemy while living in rebellion to God. You cannot do it. You can't stand against Satan while ignoring the Lord."

PRAYER |
God, I want to fight from the right position. Help me fully submit to You first, so that when I resist the enemy, I'm fighting with Your authority and not my own strength. Amen.

DAY 4 | WHAT RESISTANCE REALLY LOOKS LIKE

When we think about resisting the devil, we might imagine dramatic spiritual warfare - loud prayers, intense battles, supernatural encounters. But the reality is that resisting the devil often looks surprisingly ordinary and unspiritual. Resistance is saying no when your flesh is screaming yes. It's walking away from gossip instead of leaning in. It's blocking a phone number that leads you into temptation. It's deleting an app that feeds unhealthy desires. It's choosing accountability over secrecy. These small acts of obedience might seem insignificant, but they're actually powerful declarations of whose authority you recognize. Every time you choose God's way over the easy way, you're exercising spiritual resistance. Resisting the devil isn't about how tough you are - it's about who's got your back. When you're properly submitted to God, your resistance carries His authority. The enemy doesn't flee because you're strong; he flees because you're standing in the strength of the One who has already defeated him. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is the most practical thing: remove yourself from tempting situations, create healthy boundaries, and make choices that honor God even when no one is watching. Remember, every small act of resistance is a step toward freedom. Every no to the enemy is a yes to God's best for your life.

BIBLE VERSE |
'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.' - 2 Corinthians 12:9

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What practical, everyday choices could you make this week that would be acts of resistance against the enemy's influence in your life?

QUOTE |
"Resisting the devil often looks super unspiritual. It's saying no when your flesh is just screaming yes. It's walking away instead of leaning into gossip like we talked about. It's blocking a number. It's deleting an app."

PRAYER |
Father, give me wisdom to recognize the practical ways I can resist the enemy today. Help me make choices that honor You, even in the small, seemingly insignificant moments. Amen.

DAY 5 | THE PROMISE OF VICTORY

Here's a promise that will change how you face every battle: when you resist the devil from a position of submission to God, he will flee from you. The word 'flee' in the original language means to run in terror. Picture that - the enemy running in terror away from you, away from your family, away from your future. This isn't because you're intimidating, but because of whose authority you carry. When you're properly positioned under God, submitted to His lordship, the enemy recognizes the power that backs you up. He's not afraid of you - he's terrified of the God you serve. But remember, this promise comes with a condition: proper positioning. You can't claim this victory while living in rebellion. You can't expect the enemy to flee while you're still holding onto areas of your life that you refuse to surrender to God. The beautiful truth is that you have a choice in how this story ends. You can humble yourself, or life will do it for you. You can choose submission and experience victory, or you can choose pride and continue the exhausting battle. God's grace is sufficient for whatever you're facing today. His power is made perfect in your weakness. When you stop trying to be strong enough on your own and start relying on His strength through submission, you'll discover that victory isn't just possible - it's promised. Today, step into that promise. Submit to God, resist the enemy, and watch him flee in terror.

BIBLE VERSE |
''In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.' - Psalm 10:4

REFLECTION QUESTION |
What 'new name' or identity do you sense God calling you into, and what old labels or limitations do you need to leave behind to embrace it fully?

QUOTE |
"That word means to run in terror. Picture the enemy running in terror away from you, running in terror away from your family or kids."

PRAYER |
Lord, I believe Your promise that the enemy will flee when I resist him from a position of submission to You. Help me walk in this victory today, trusting in Your power and not my own. Amen.

ACTION STEP

This week, identify one area where you've been trying to handle things in your own strength rather than submitting to God. Practice daily surrender by starting each morning with a prayer of submission, asking God to lead that specific area of your life. When you face temptation or challenges, remember to first acknowledge God's authority before trying to resist in your own power.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank You for this reminder that Your grace is sufficient for us and that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to humble ourselves before You daily, choosing submission over self-reliance. Give us the courage to get off the throne of our lives and let You lead. When we face spiritual battles, remind us that our victory comes through Your authority, not our own strength. Make us a church that draws near to You so that You can draw near to us. Transform our hearts to be like Yours - humble, submitted, and dependent on the Father. In Your mighty name we pray, Amen.

BIBLE APP PLANS

Temptation
7 Days – Life.Church
Temptation comes in so many forms. And it is easy to excuse our decisions and justify ourselves. This seven-day plan shows you that you can overcome temptation through the Spirit of God. Take time to quiet your mind; let God speak into your life, and you will find strength to overcome the greatest temptations.

The Power to Overcome Temptation
7 Days – Rick Warren
Welcome to this seven-day devotional reading plan on fighting temptation. When you became a Christian, you may have thought your battle with temptation would get easier. But even the most mature Christians in the world still struggle with it! This reading plan will show you how to make a plan to resist temptation and find hope as you embrace God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to help fix your heart and mind on Christ.

Overcome Your Temptation (Youth)
4 Days – Dr. Bruce Wilkinson

In this four-day reading plan on how to overcome your temptations, New York Times Best-selling author Bruce Wilkinson gives insight into aspects of temptation to reveal how to gain victory.