"Showdown"

 Grew up watching those old westerns,

With a showdown on the street,

Sheriff bold and outlaw cold,

And at high noon they’d meet.

They had their pistols ready,

And quickest on the draw,

Face to face, they’d stand in place,

It’s what I always saw.

And in those early westerns,

The lawman drew his quick,

He’d shoot him down, right there in town,

Or sometimes another trick.

He’d hit the other’s weapon,

In that bold, noon-day stand,

Not the guy, and it’s no lie,

Shoot the pistol from his hand.

I’ve often thought about it,

When the devil called me out,

Would I be strong to fight the wrong,

Resist what he’s about.

The Bible says the humble,

Can put him on the run,

Draw the line when it is time,

To shoot God’s gospel gun.

Keep that pistol loaded,

With rounds and rounds of prayer,

The Spirit fill, God’s word will kill,

The evil we find there.

Faith will keep your aim so true,

When it comes time to fire,

Steady sure, what you endure,

And the devil makes you tire.

And in the name of Jesus,

With His authority,

We will resist, and will not miss,

And make that old dog flee.

Life will have its showdowns,

They happen all the time,

Warriors free is who we’ll be,

The good guys will be fine.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you…” (James 4:7, NLT)

James has already explained the sequence of personal temptation without any mention of the devil. He says in chapter one, verses fourteen through fifteen, that temptation comes from our own desires which entice us, draw us away, and ultimately cause us to sin. Deal with yourself, with God’s help, and you can overcome temptation. And don’t blame everything on the devil. On the other hand we know that we’re in a spiritual battle against a real enemy. The devil is a tempter and deceiver, and we are in a spiritual battle with him and his demons. The key, according to James, in making the devil flee is having a humble attitude. When we do, God graces us for the battle, and we can put the devil on the run. And because we can, we should.

Lord, help us resist the devil and make his flee, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.