1 Peter 5:8-11
[8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. [11] To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
When we read this verse, often times we expect the Devil to come in a way that we’d automatically recognize. In a way that we would expect, but that isn’t always the way he attacks. See, the enemy knows you better than you know yourself. He knows you better than you think he does. He watches you. Studies you. Takes notice of every little thing about you. Your actions. Desires. Thoughts. And he’s taking notes. He’s preparing attack after attack for you.
Sometimes, he doesn’t come full force knocking down the front door. Sometimes, it’s just little things. Keeping your prayers held back, so that you think God no longer hears you. Making sure that for everything you get done right, multiple things go wrong. Chipping and chipping away at your self-esteem, drive, faith, hope until you have nothing left. Beating you in a battle that you didn’t even realize was with him.
Paul says we’re not unaware of the Devil’s schemes. This is true, but if we aren’t watchful and on guard as Peter tells us to be, then we will miss his attacks. We’ll fall prey to his teeth and claws. So, what are we to do? Pray. Seek. Read. Worship. We have to be in tune with the Spirit of God in order to have the discernment needed to see his clever schemes. In order to be encouraged to keep going. To not give up or give in. To keep fighting for another day.
Dear LORD, I’m sorry for all the times I’ve neglected You. I’m sorry for not putting You first in my life and allowing the enemy to sneak right past me. Please forgive me. Please remove him from within my life. Please seal up every open door and window in my life that has allowed him in. Help me to never open them again. Strengthen my heart, mind, and faith. Help me to fight and not give up. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.