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Imagine that you are on an African safari. Something happens to your jeep and you are stranded.
You are going to be more aware of the dangers around you. Especially if there are lions in the area.
You are going to make choices based on the fact that there is a lion out there seeking to eat you.
Scripture says that the devil is like a lion:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
Let us think about that for a bit.
What are some are some of the characteristics of the prey that a lion goes after?
- The Weak
- The Slow
- The Young
- The Old
- The Unsuspecting
- The Isolated
- The Injured
- The Different
Imagine those characteristics as spiritual things. What are one or more things that you do that might put yourself in one or more of those categories?
Here are some of the thoughts that I had:
The Weak
Lack of exercise and nourishment can leave us weak. Are we feeding your soul daily? Are we working the muscles of our faith?
The Slow
Lack of sleep can leave us slow. Are we taking time to be still with God? To observe a day of rest?
The Young
Are we new in the faith? Have we found a mentor and an accountability partner?
The Old
Has our faith grown stagnant?
Sometimes we get arrogant. We think that we have nothing more to learn about God, His Word, or faith.
Have we grown weary in doing good?
The Unsuspecting
Are we preparing for the devil’s attacks by putting on the garment of praise, love, and the full armor of God? Are we familiar with your weapon?
Are we so busy that you are distracted?
The Isolated
Are we active in a community of believers?
We are called to fellowship with fellow believers.
Not just get our church from the tv, but really be part of the church body (yes, there are people who cannot get out of their house, but that is where the body should come in through visits, etc).
Sometimes lions will work to isolate prey. He knows that there is safety in numbers.
Imagine breaking a pencil.
Not always easy, but very doable.
Now, imagine holding a handful of pencils.
If you have 10 pencils in your hand, it is nearly impossible to do unless you are the Incredible Hulk or Superman.
The Injured
We all feel broken at times, but we should not stay there. Allowing God to heal our brokeness is important.
Maybe we have been hurt by someone in the church.
Maybe we feel the devil’s attacks daily and that we are losing ground, we have gotten distracted by the storm.
The Different
Unlike the other things, this is not a bad thing. We are called to stand out as people of God. Sometimes that makes us easier prey because we are more visible. In this case, it is encouraging when we face trials for a our faith.
We must live our lives like we are being sought by a prowling lion. Preparing for the daily spiritual warfare.
How do you prepare yourself for the day, and more specifically, for the enemy’s attacks? What are some verses that you use to sword fight?
Wow great thoughts here! Amen!
I agree with your thoughts, Robbie! I have gone through seasons where I was more prone to the devil than other times! Great post!
Oh how I long to always be prepared! It’s something I’m working towards but my favourite verse is Romans 8:31 – and I cling on to that so dearly! Thanks for sharing.
I like how you break down our vulnerabilities here! I think I want to add one for myself. Satan gets me when I am distracted!
Terrific post! I love the analogies you use here. The pencil example is terrific–easy to remember and such an accurate picture of how much stronger Christians are together. So much truth in all these points. Thank you so much for this challenge and encouragement today.
Awesome analogy! One of my verses I turn to is 2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. I find it very powerful!