Spiritual Vigilance
1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
As believers, it is critical that we are constantly in a state of spiritual vigilance. Our enemy, Satan, is always a threat and ready to attack us spiritually. Peter uses the metaphor of a lion to describe the devil's destructive threat. The imagery depicts how the lion—Satan-- is constantly on the prowl for a believer to attack and devour. To devour means to consume something quickly and ravenously. When Peter describes Satan as seeking someone to devour, he is referring to the fact that Satan is always on the hunt for gullible and ill-prepared Christians who are the intended prey.
To avoid being gullible and ill-prepared, Peter instructs us to be sober-minded. By being sober-minded, we are actively working to guard our hearts from toxic and unholy influences. As Christians, it is important that we protect our hearts from the negative influences that Satan can use to lead us astray from sound judgment. To maintain a sober mind, we must be aware of the influences in our lives, and that of the world around us.
The devil is real, and he is a true spiritual enemy with an agenda to destroy followers of Christ. Satan takes many forms, and has gone by many names in the bible including accuser of saints, destroyer of nations, father of lies, and murderer. Satan’s agenda to destroy Christians is oftentimes beyond the physical. He is crafty, and exploits our weaknesses (anxiety, worry, depression, vanity, lust, addiction, etc.) to render us useless as ambassadors for Christ. This is done to hinder our spiritual growth, thus keeping us in a place of complacency. With this in mind, it is imperative that we become aware of who he is, to know his strategy, territory, and to fight back against his frailty.
Here are some strategies to resist the devil:
· Acknowledge the truth of God's word (Matthew 4:4)
· There is joy found in community with other believers (Acts 2:46, Hebrews 10:25)
· Flee temptation as you pursue righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22)
· Forgive as you have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32)
· Put on the full armor of God, and be prepared (Ephesians 6:10-18)
· Remember that you are not alone if you are in fellowship with others (Hebrews 12:1)
Our place in eternity is secure, but Satan still seeks to devour our faith in Jesus Christ. Satan uses fear to shake our submission, and our obedience to Christ. Satan will whisper lies in our ears, in an attempt to distort our understanding of God's goodness and faithfulness. Satan’s goal is to make us so faint-hearted, that we will be ineffective for Christ. This is spiritual warfare.
Clothe yourself in humility, because it is not our power, but God’s. All spiritual battles must begin with a humble heart. Having said that, understand that Satan will only possess power if you let him. Though we have victory over the devil, we still must take precautions. To do this, we are called to adhere to the One who has already defeated him, Jesus Christ. If we continue to hold steadfast to Christ, Satan will have no power over us.
What can you do every day to ensure you are kept in a sober-minded and vigilant stance against your enemy? When the attacks come, do you have a strategy in place?
Father, please keep me humble in heart so that I may cast all of my cares, fears, and worries upon you. Allow me to be spiritually discerning, vigilant, and prepared against the attacks of the enemy. I know that the attacks from the enemy are inevitable, but I am fully reliant on You so that I will not stumble or be deceived. Remind me to put on my spiritual armor daily, and to remain steadfast. Thank you, Lord that You go before me fighting my battles. Amen.
Scripture References:
Ephesians 6:10-13, James 4:7, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 91: 1-16
