James 4:7 James gives a simple sequence: submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Submission comes first — resistance without it tends to fail. Submit to God before you resist anything. The order matters. Submission is the foundation for effective resistance. Resist deliberately, not passively. This is an active stance, not just hoping the pressure goes away. Trust the promise of retreat. James doesn't hedge here — resistance under submission actually works