Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Very few people are always on alert, expecting danger to occur at any moment. Unless they are in a very dangerous area or outside of the normal area of living, most people feel safe.
Although things can appear to be safe, danger can come very suddenly and from unexpected locations, if one is not aware of what is going on around them. A person must always be on alert when he is driving down the road, to be ready for anything that could possibly go wrong.
As Peter is closing his letter, he gives a warning to the believers to be alert and sober, because the devil is going around like a lion seeking to destroy someone.
During times, when everything is going good, it is easy for a believer to get lulled into a sleep thinking that everything is good and nothing bad will occur. Just as a driver going down a long, straight road for hours will get drowsy, believers will often get drowsy and not pay attention to his surroundings.
Many people think of the devil in a red suit that looks ugly. In reality, the devil comes disguised in many things to devour a believer. He comes as a ‘good’ friend, a co-worker, a little child, a magazine, a picture, the internet and many other ways. He comes both inside and outside the church as little temptations to sin against God.
The devil is doing whatever it takes to destroy the believer.
The easiest way to stop the devil is to be aware and resist him. The only way to do this is to be aware and of a sober mind, not caught up in the temporary things of this world.
Satan is out to destroy you. Keep your eyes focused on God and allow His Holy Spirit to keep you aware of what the tactics of the devil are.
God can reveal when the devil is making an attack against you and will show you a way of escape. Instead of walking into temptation and being devoured, resist the devil and flee. Do not give the devil a chance to win the battle.
Put your trust in God, stay alert being led by the Holy Spirit and He will protect you.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that God will open your eyes to the tactics of the devil; that you will be aware of the deception of the enemy; that you will be led by the Holy Spirit; that God will protect you during times of attack; and that your mind will be focused upon God and His eternal things.
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