1. Confess all known sin (1 John 1:9) with the understanding that the sin is to be abandoned. "A conscience without offense toward God and men" (Acts 24:16) is the first step in confronting Satan.
2. Be vigilant and "on your guard": "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Alertness to Satan's designs and intentions will help avoid encounters with him.
3. Submit to God (James 4:7–8) in two ways:
A. Resist the devil:
(1) Have a psychological mind-set against him: "But Daniel purposed
in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8). "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Romans 13:14,
NIV).
(2) Put Satan in his place. When Satan spoke to Jesus through Peter to
try to divert Him from His eternal purpose, Jesus rebuked him: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23, NIV).
(3) Use Scripture. When Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4:1–11), Jesus
answered devastatingly with three pertinent Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16; and 6:13. A strong argument for familiarity with Scripture is to be able to resist Satan.
B. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Intimate, daily devotional time with the Lord, using His Word and seeking His presence and strength through prayer, will help us resist Satan and result in his fleeing: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).
4. Overcome Satan by the Holy Spirit: "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Scripture
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11).