As I write today's blog I want to be very careful to state up front that I am not saying that you should always be "expecting" bad things to happen to you. Nor am I saying that anytime something good happens that you should have the attitude that something bad is about to happen. Not at all! However, what I do want to write about today is always be alert and aware of the enemy's existence in this world and not become tired, forgetful or even lazy to his plans to destroy all you have. And there is 1 verse in the bible that I could revolve this entire blog around. 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". This verse alone says all I want to point out today!
When we begin to walk in the direction that God has for us we get the enemy's attention. It is when we make this change in our life that he takes notice to us and starts to see us as a threat to his plans. Because up until the point that we make the choice to follow Jesus, we are pretty much abiding by the world's ways and that is the slumber that the enemy hopes people fall into. Whether your life was a wreck before Jesus, or you were just one of those "good moral people", you were not communing with God, therefore you were not much of a threat to satan. You were not a voice for Jesus. You were not looking for ways to fulfill His purpose for your life. And you were not becoming a vessel for God to use to reach others. So once these things begin to take place in your life, you now have the potential (and should be) to destroy the kingdoms the enemy is trying to build in this world.
There are so many comparisons I can think of right here to show what I mean that I am actually struggling on which one to use. A good general in a war would be crazy to not look for attacks at any time, from any side, from his enemy. A good shepherd would always be on the look out for a wild animal to come after one of his flock. A good offensive ball player knows that it is the job of the defense to take the ball away from him. So in these scenarios the person does not live in fear of what "could" happen to them. They operate always being "aware" of what could happen. They stay alert. They stay ready. They stay trained up and ready to respond if (or when) an attack comes. So as a Christ follower we too should have this same kind of attitude. The more connected you become to Jesus, the more you desire to chase after Him and do His will and the more you become a tool for God to use, then the more the enemy is going to want to take you down. So the more prepared you MUST keep yourself for attacks from Him. I think too many times we get into the mindset that it won't happen to us....and to be honest, that is exactly the "relaxed" attitude that the enemy would love for us to have so he can catch us off guard. A shepherd that falls asleep on his watch might as well not be there at all. He must be alert and ready. You and I must be alert and ready. And this is accomplished by staying connected to Jesus. Staying in His Word. Spending time in the secret place with God and building up your spirit man. And staying in fellowship with other believers who can pour into your life as you pour into theirs. You are a threat to the enemy achieving his goals to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). And that is not something to take lightly!
I wanted to also leave you with more verses about being alert. One, so you could read up on them yourself, but two, so you could see that it is mentioned quite a few times in the bible, so it is something we should know God is warning us about. (Ephesians 6:18, 1 Peter 1:13, Mark 14:38, Matthew 26:41, Luke 21:36)
Please don't wait until Sunday to offer praise and worship up to Jesus. Find time in your day to do this, to get into His Word, to be alone with Him and to seek out His will for you today! These area all things that will keep you strong! So when the enemy throws something at you, it may come unexpected, but he won't catch you unprepared.
God, Thank You SO much that Your Word warns us and helps us to be prepared for attacks from the enemy. Help us to realize that it IS up to us to stay alert and ready. And may we live lives that makes the enemy feel threatened because it is then that we know we are being the most effective for the Your Kingdom. Please Holy Spirit give us eyes and ears to be able to see the attack when it comes at us, and give us the wisdom to know how to battle the enemy when he does come at us. In Jesus name, Amen
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