If you’re trying to live a godly life, you probably already know by experience that Satan wages a spiritual war for your soul. That’s what the Apostle Paul said as he encouraged us to prepare for this battle. He wrote: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)

The apostle Peter knew this by experience too, and perhaps that’s what he was thinking about when he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write about how Jesus equips us to say no to Satan’s temptations and our own evil desires. Peter writes: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these (i.e., Christ’s own glory and goodness) he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

That’s insanely great news! The opposition is strong, but our Lord is stronger. By His divine power demonstrated through His resurrection from the dead, Jesus has defeated Satan and made it possible for us to “participate in the divine nature.” Prayerfully let that sink in for a moment for it is the key to standing firm, escaping the corruption in the world, and living a godly life.

“For this very reason,” Peter writes in verses 5-8, “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I encourage you to meditate on these verses, memorize them, and do what they say so you will be effective and productive in your pursuit of a godly life.