Have you ever heard of someone being referred to as "strong-willed"? People tend to respond negatively to this term. Actually, being strong-willed can be a great asset for an individual if he or she can direct this power in the right direction!

Some individuals have overcome serious illnesses - even life-threatening illnesses - to live a normal, productive life. How can this be?

Some people would answer, "They have a strong will to live." Yes, one reason these individuals overcome sickness is because of a strong will to live.

Choose To Resist the Devil
How is it, then, that the devil can overcome some people and not others? Simply, those who overcome the devil choose to do so! Christians should not allow Satan to overcome their will, because we have authority and power over him.

Satan may be the god of this world, but my Bible states: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he [Jesus] that is in you, than he [Satan] that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

Although as Christians we legally have the victory over Satan through Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 15:57), it's a whole new "ball game" to obtain and keep our victory over the adversary.

Not obtaining our inheritance in Christ - lacking knowledge and not applying what we do know - is why many Christians have become ill in their mind, body, and wounded spirit.

The prophet Hosea, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, states: "My people [not the sinners] are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6).

You cannot make adequate decisions without knowledge or alternatives. Remember, the definition of "choose" is "to select from a number of possible alternatives: decide upon and pick out."

A "choice" is to select from two or more alternatives. You can't believe past what you don't know - and you won't be able to make a wise choice without any knowledge or alternatives.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. We must get the Word into our hearts. Then we can speak forth choices that are based on our knowledge of His Word, and we can live the glorious, virtuous life He has called us to live (2 Peter 1:3).

Copyright © Todd Bailey Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.