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).
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1–3, NIV).
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7–8). Other suggested Scriptures: Colossians 1:13