"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

Today's thought follows on from our last one, as does the above scripture. Our context shows us that defeating the devil, in practical terms, is first and foremost dependent on both our humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand and our casting all our cares on him knowing he cares for us; knowing that we are the apple of his eye. The "casting" requires considerable strength and effort. It also requires a conscious emphatic decision to completely let go. The same Greek word is used of casting a circular fishing net which has metal weights stitched to it around its circumference. (We often witnessed this spectacle when in Guinea-Bissau.)

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

During the night (3.30 am) I felt God giving me something that I needed to write down. "Submission is a heart-attitude of humility, love and trust, which leads to a confident and joyful casting of all my anxieties on the One who loves me and gave himself for me. Not to do this is either an indication of pride or despair based on the devil's lies."

For me, one of his most dangerous lies is "There should be no approval, affirmation or praise for the one who doesn't deserve it; who hasn't earned it". This, of course, is the complete opposite of grace. And grace is the only basis we have to develop any sort of relationship with God. Grace is unconditional love. Everything we need for the most intimate relationship with God comes to us from Him. All we need to do is to receive it as a gift and rest in it. What might be the cares you have yet to cast upon him?