When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (ESV)

”Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7: ESV)

‘Had he not already been through enough suffering? When Satan cannot win as the lion (1 Pet.5:8), then he comes as the serpent (2 Cor.11:3). We must constantly be on guard and trust the Lord to care for us (Mark 16:18)’ Warren Wiersbe.

‘Let us also shake off temptation. We cannot prevent its attacking us, but we need not take the viper into our heart.’ F.B. Meyer

Or, as Martin Luther said, you can’t prevent the birds from flying about your head, but you can prevent them building a nest in your hair!

Let us become absolutely convinced of the victory we have in Jesus the Victor