Surprise!

I Peter 5:8-9
(excerpt from Morning Meditations by Martin Wiles)

I Peter 5:8 Watch out for attacks from the Devil — He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. (NLT)

We began early while it was still cool and the dew was clinging tenaciously to every trace of vegetation. The noise appeared to be just ahead of us, but we ignored it. We knew the nocturnal creatures were scurrying to their day’s hideouts.

My brother and I arrived at Unicoi Gap north of Helen, Georgia shortly after daylight, heading for the spot where the Chattahoochee River’s source makes its debut. We planned to enjoy a less traveled section of the Appalachian Trail.

We followed the noise for a mile, never discovering the origin. Until we reached the mountain’s top and rounded a curve. A mother bear with two cubs. The most dangerous conditions under which to encounter a black bear. We carefully backed away and fortunately she did too.

A surprised mother bear can maim, kill and even devour. So can our enemy the Devil. Peter warns about his intentions and compares him to a roaring lion looking for food. The warning is to Jesus followers because they have left Satan’s camp.

The Devil cannot devour our salvation. Jesus said no one can snatch his children from the Father’s hand. But there are other things he can consume. Such as our reputation. A delicate item, just like a credit rating. It takes many years to build an admirable one and a single unwise decision can ruin it.

As lions normally attack sick or helpless animals, so Satan is more prone to assault us when our guard is down. Focusing on our troubles, thinking no one understands what we’re dealing with, wondering if God really cares, and times of suffering-physical and emotional. All scenarios Satan loves to infiltrate causing discouragement and depression.

So what’s the solution? Be careful and watch. Careful not to place ourselves in situations where our weaknesses make it easy for him to devour us. Watching by preparing ourselves through prayer and memorizing God’s Word.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in our times of weakness, help us avoid the lair of our enemy that we might know the peace and victory that comes through obedience to You.


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