So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. James 4:7 (GOD’S WORD Translation, GW)

The King James Version tells us to submit to God. The word submit means to come under. We are to come under God and His authority. As we come UNDER God’s authority, we have authority OVER the devil.

The word resist means to stand up to and to stand firm against. As we submit to God, coming under His authority then our authority over the devil is effective and operational. It works because God is standing behind us, backing us up as we resist the devil. As a result, he flees in Jesus’ name.

Flee means to run in terror. The devil is to be afraid of us; we are not to be afraid of him. When we submit, we come under the mission of God. You see, both God and the devil have a plan for us. As we humble ourselves and receive God’s grace, the devil’s plans fail. He can’t touch us when we are in submission to God. As we stand firm in submission to God, we enforce the victory of Christ in our lives. We keep the enemy from stealing the victory from us- or anything else for that matter.

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. Luke 10:19 (Amplified Bible, AMP)

We walk in victory OVER the enemy. We have authority to walk victoriously in life. We can laugh at the devil and his antics, and send him packing. All because we choose to come UNDER God’s authority.