The Devil is an Opportunist
The enemy of our souls seeks to devour and destroy us. 1 Peter 5:8-9 gives a clear picture of how he seeks to devour us.
He is looking for someone to pick off, like the lions of the Sahara that roam about waiting for that weak or aged gazelle to eat.
But we are not clueless like that gazelle. Here Peter exhorts us first to be sober-minded. This implies that Satan will work to attack our minds. Often times if he can just get us to believe something that is not true or even take the truth and twist it then as we begin to believe the lie, it effects our view of God.
In our weakness God is strong so we can stand against the enemy of our souls just like Jesus did.
In Luke 4, Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Here we see Jesus, hungry and weak from 40 days of fasting yet being filled with the Holy Spirit He used the word of God to combat the enticement of the devil.
After every temptation was complete, he departed from Jesus and the Bible says;
Take courage today that no matter the temptation your Lord knows and he is aware that Satan is an opportunist.
We can take solace in the fact that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are tempted. He understands our weakness.
Romans 8:34 says that Jesus is indeed interceding for us!
We can also take courage in that our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing the same temptations and even greater.
We can be confident that our enemy will not give up so we need to position our hearts to pray for ourselves and others. He especially targets us as we too are filled with the Holy Spirit and as the Holy Spirit is moving in our lives.
We can take courage that we will one day see the Lord!
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
He is looking for someone to pick off, like the lions of the Sahara that roam about waiting for that weak or aged gazelle to eat.
But we are not clueless like that gazelle. Here Peter exhorts us first to be sober-minded. This implies that Satan will work to attack our minds. Often times if he can just get us to believe something that is not true or even take the truth and twist it then as we begin to believe the lie, it effects our view of God.
In our weakness God is strong so we can stand against the enemy of our souls just like Jesus did.
In Luke 4, Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Here we see Jesus, hungry and weak from 40 days of fasting yet being filled with the Holy Spirit He used the word of God to combat the enticement of the devil.
After every temptation was complete, he departed from Jesus and the Bible says;
... he departed from him until an opportune time.
Take courage today that no matter the temptation your Lord knows and he is aware that Satan is an opportunist.
We can take solace in the fact that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are tempted. He understands our weakness.
Romans 8:34 says that Jesus is indeed interceding for us!
We can also take courage in that our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing the same temptations and even greater.
We can be confident that our enemy will not give up so we need to position our hearts to pray for ourselves and others. He especially targets us as we too are filled with the Holy Spirit and as the Holy Spirit is moving in our lives.
We can take courage that we will one day see the Lord!
Psalm 27:11-14 is a great prayer for us
Teach me you way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall look upon the
goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD; be strong,
and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
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