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 NIV
While many of us downplay not only the existence of the evil one, we certainly at times downplay his role in the pain and suffering in our lives, and fall easy prey to his attack.
First, how do we know without a doubt he exists? Jesus says he does, period, that’s enough for me.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. John 17:15 NIV
Jesus asked this of the father in prayer for his apostles, shortly before he went to the cross. His concern for his apostles, after they had walked with him for over three years, was so great, he mentions it in prayer. It was so real he prayed to God for their protection. He knows as humans, no matter how strong their walk, they could easily fall prey.
Picture a zebra alone, separated from his pack, running from a lion. The lion slapping at his back legs scratching them and knocking them out from under him, at times forcing him to stumble. Then, at times, the lion seems to have him. Just as it appears he might be slipping away, the lion pounces, suffocates and devours.
This, as ugly as it appears from afar by us and others, is exactly what happens to us in our spiritual battle, when we are not alert. We try to get away, we are alone and we continue to stumble. The danger is the final attack that comes and takes away our eternal life.
God will protect us, if we let him. How?
Cry out to him in every case, and if you are tempted to fall, fall on your knees.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:14-15 NIV
No matter how bad the attack, call on the lord our God!
Special thanks for this submission by guest blogger – Barnabas