To Run Or To Stand And Fight?

James 4: 7

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  

 So we have the Armor of God to wear in our battle with the enemy (Ephesians 6:11-17) which we are to wear while we:

wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places; ...
That we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (vs. 12-13).

We are to stand our ground and battle the devil.

But we are to flee temptation. I Corinthians 10:13 says to flee fornication, and 10:14 says to flee from idolatry. Paul tells Timothy to flee from the love of money (I Timothy 6:10), and to flee from youthful lusts (II Timothy 2:22). 

And I Corinthians 10:13 tells us a way to escape temptation. 

I need to recognize when I am to stand and fight (hand-to-hand wrestling, even), and when I am to turn tail and run away. Like Joseph did when Potiphar's wife propositioned him, leaving his coat in her grabbing hand! (Genesis 39:12-13). 

And in James 4:17 he says that, the one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. A sin of omission. 

So we "miss the mark" when we do what is wrong, and also when we don't do what is right!

O my Father, please give me discernment when I am facing mere temptation I am to run from, compared to the enemy himself, who I am to stand up to and fight. 

Strengthen me for the fight, and teach me Your techniques for the hand-to-hand battle. 

And when it is my own flesh, this World around me, or the pull of demonic temptation, let me be humble enough to just turn away. 

And when I know how to do what is right, but I'm just too busy or too lazy or too selfish to do it, please draw my attention to what I am not doing.

I know that Your Spirit in me is strong and wise, and will lead me aright in the path on which You have placed my feet. Keep my hand firmly in Yours, as my Good Father, who will never let me go; even if I should try to pull away. 

Never let me wander or veer off to the left or to the right, but continue boldly on straight ahead, toward the goal of Your high calling in Christ Jesus wherewith You have called me. 

And Father, I pray as Jabez prayed in I Chronicles 4:10, that You would enlarge my borders of influence, that You would lead me and keep me from the pull of temptation, that I also would not be a pain, either to myself or others or to Your mighty, holy Name! 

And all the glory and praise belongs to only You, as our Boss, our Owner, our God Almighty; who has all the power and all the authority and all the regal majesty of royalty over us all. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!