James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” As followers of Christ who are submitted to God, we have been put in a position of power and authority, a position delegated to us by God through Jesus Christ. When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, you were delivered from the power of darkness. The word power is literally translated as authority. You have been delivered from the power, or authority, of darkness and placed into God’s kingdom. Our path into this new year is not without challenges, but we must stand firm in the truth that God has given us power over any obstacle or attack from the enemy. What is the challenge that you are facing right now? What area of your life are you facing a battle in right now? Remember that people, relationships and situations are not your enemy. Ephesians 6:12 emphasizes this, saying: "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places." We are able to sharpen the tools for this spiritual battle through prayer, fasting, staying in community, and diving into the Word of God. Jesus declares in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." I love that phrase “nothing shall hurt you.” This promise is a reminder of the finished work of Christ and the authority you already have as a Christ follower. As we continue these 21-days of prayer and fasting, let’s use this time to strengthen our spiritual armor, to stand tall in the face of adversity, and to declare God's victory over every scheme of the enemy.