God Exalts and Satan Devours

• If we humble ourselves, we acknowledge our frail wisdom in light of God’s infinite wisdom. (v. 6) 
• True humility accepts the power of God’s hand over any human might that one could even muster. (v. 6)
• Christ exalts the Christian to demonstrate his mercy toward his children. (v. 6)
• Casting our anxieties on God requires complete surrender and complete trust in God’s mighty hand. (v. 7)
• As Christians, we have a personal God who cares about our personal mental state. (v. 7)

Preparing for War

• Preparing for war requires a mind clear of anxieties, not a mind clouded by circumstances. (v. 8)
• A watchful Christian looks for the enemy’s schemes instead of overlooking them. (v. 8)
• If the devil is seeking to devour us, we better be prepared to use the power imparted to us. (vv. 8-9)
• Christians should resist the devil like their life depended upon it because it does. (v. 9)
• The number one thing the enemy wants a Christian to feel in a time of suffering is loneliness, not comforted or loved. (v. 9)

Fighting the War

• Humility demands us to acknowledge Jesus who knows the devil who is out to kill, steal, and destroy us.
• The full armor of God is the tool we need to combat the devil.
• Community can be a powerful byproduct of suffering whenever Christians bond together.