The opposition... part 4...

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

1 Peter 5:8

I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing one's enemy.  Regardless of the type of enemy, it has been wisely stated that the only way to defeat your enemy is to understand him/her.  And to understand, you must be ready to dig deep and look at what the enemy really is.  This is a scary prospect, but no one wins a battle with their head in the sand.

This will be the last post on this particular topic, so don't think we're going to dwell too much on who it is that assails us.  But it can never be said too much that we must know our enemy and understand how to defeat him.  And the first key to this is to be alert, as discussed in the fruit of the Spirit.  We must be prepared and calm and sober-minded.  Clarity of purpose and thought is paramount to the success of this task, and we cannot afford to ever wander away from this.  (We know we'll wander, because we're human, but raised awareness increases capability for success in less wandering and not wandering as far.)

The second kicker here, though, is the descriptor of the enemy as a prowling lion "ready to devour" us.  Imagine a beast of that size and power, looking right into your eyes, right in front of you... and he's hungry.  Will you respect it?  Will you be wary of it?  Will you seriously take the time to focus on how to overcome this particular predicament?  Or will you fail to recognize the severity of the situation, ignoring the power of evil that is staring into your very being?  Will you assume in arrogance that you are smarter, faster and good enough to overcome it all on your own?  Will you believe that you are capable, due to the growth you have experienced so far?  The bigger problem is that the lion appears at first to be a sweet and innocent little kitten, and only grows to full size because of our own impudence.  Then it becomes clear to us what the enemy really is, and I have to ask: in that moment, am I that good?

Let me explain something for you: I'm not that good.  You're not that good.  None of us are.  Only through Christ are we able to withstand and surmount the evil that assails us.  Only Christ empowers us to be able to win that contest.  And when we assume in arrogance that we can handle it without prayer, we usually get kicked right in the trachea with a steel-soled boot and no remorse.  And as we gasp for breath, we recognize our failing in not praying before we tackle a task of this magnitude.  It happens to me... I bet if you're honest, you'll admit it happens to you... it happens to everyone at different times. 

Pray, folks.  Pray with all your heart, mind and soul for Christ to fill you with the power needed to look right in the face of that lion and turn away, guarded by the very power of Heaven.  But understand that it is only when you feel confident that the lion will strike.  That lion looks all nice and calm until you get arrogant... and then it kills you.  This is the enemy we face.  We must know it and be aware of it.

Take time today to spend in prayer over your own level of awareness in Christ.  Pray for added awareness of where the lion prowls in your life, and which corners he hides behind.  Pray for the sobriety of mind that allows you to recognize all of those places the instant you encounter them.  And then encourage someone, and spread forward the Truth that the enemy has already been defeated for all eternity, and that we are only adding to that defeat by honoring the Lord in all our ways!

God bless you all!!!