The devil never rests.  After he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the Bible says, “And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13).  Satan continues to operate similarly with us today.  If his temptations are not successful, he leaves, but he will always come back at an opportune time.

Everyday Christianity involves battling the devil whenever he attacks.  It involves a strong determination to never give in to the devil when he attempts to devour us, but instead, we resist him whenever he comes at us.

James 4:7-8 (ESV)
⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James tells us how we are to resist the devil.  We do so by submitting to God in all things.  As long as we are living in obedience to our heavenly Father, we are rebuffing Satan.  Remember, sin, which is the devil’s tool used to destroy us, is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).  So, as long as we submit to God by obeying His Word, the devil cannot have his way with us.

The key is running the race with endurance.  The race of Christianity is not a sprint; it is a marathon.  A part of battling the devil is enduring the trials, tribulations, and temptations that we know will come our way sooner or later.

James 1:12 (ESV)
¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Every new day is another opportunity to live as a Christian.  As we wind down tonight, let’s determine to not only be Christians, but to be Christians every day.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.