Read
1 Peter 5:8,
"Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour."
Think
This past weekend, we saw the movie "Sandlot" as a part of our current series, "At the Movies." In this movie, the ragtag boy's baseball team tried to retrieve a ball that was hit over the fence. Much to their dismay, they were met with a deafening sound of a monstrous dog who seemed to counterattack every attempt they made, leaving them afraid and defeated. They wound up saying a very important line that applies to many of us today: "I think we've seriously underestimated the beast." Many of us have seriously underestimated our opponent – the evil one. As Scripture describes it, he's like a lion on the prowl, waiting for someone to devour. He doesn't enter through the front door and he doesn't announce his arrival. He often sneaks in through a side door when we least expect it. But, we don't have to be fearful! We can tame the beast and be victorious over him if we remember that we serve the great lion-tamer. He knows how to do battle with the beast and he will fight for us and provide a way out if we will listen and obey him.
Act
Stop for a moment and find 1 Peter 5:8-9 in your bible. Highlight it and underline the phrase "be sober-minded, be alert." If you have a different translation, underline the phrase that is comparable. This phrase is important because God has given us every tool imaginable to keep Satan from beating us, we just have to be alert and mindful of his antics. We know our enemy and what he is up to so we can win out over anything he throws at us!
Pray
God, I'm so glad that you have given us all the information we need to withstand any and everything that the evil one hurls our way. Until he meets his final loss at your hands, continue to help me be victorious over his assault. I'm grateful that I have you on my side as my divine defender. In Jesus' name, Amen.