Be Alert!

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)

There has never been a time more prevalent than now, that I thought the devil was truly prowling around. Actually, it feels like he’s more on a warpath than just prowling. We are being bombarded with images of explicit sexual immorality, the homosexual lifestyle is being shoved down our throats in an effort to make it more tasteful and acceptable. The word “racism” is being thrown around like confetti hoping it keeps people stirred up. Abortion and women’s rights keeps being flung around but no one ever mentions that unwanted pregnancies are easily avoided with no harm what so ever to the woman. Let’s not forget gun rights. I’m still waiting to see a load of guns jump up, load bullets into themselves, pack up and drive to a designated location and fire themselves on unsuspecting strangers. Yes, I am being a bit sarcastic but I’m fed up. And this new but not so new identity crisis that seems to be hitting our young people is off the charts. We have centuries of documents and science identifying males and females but now you get to choose? The devil is wreaking havoc on the minds of unbelieving, gullible, misfit young people. And those who are supposed to be guiding and helping are part of the problem. We have become so politically correct that we are afraid to call it like we see it.

I’m fed up being treated like an uneducated hillbilly by the media. I’m fed up being told what is good for me. I’m fed up having garbage shoved down my throat by EVERY media and news outlet in existence. I’m fed up with all of the propaganda and half-truths that get thrown around repeatedly, multiple times a day. I’m fed up with highly educated, well-heeled Americans, talking to me (us) as if we are unable to understand what is taking place in our country. I am fed up with people destroying this country, this place I call home. I’m so fed up that I just turn off everything.

But God! But God always shows me something that eases my mind. This morning as I sat to read one of Lucy’s devotion, the scripture above popped up on my screen. 1Peter 5:8-9 confirms that I am not losing my mind and that I am not alone in my thinking and suffering, though I really don’t consider myself suffering in the traditional sense. It does remind us of our role as Believers, in all of this turmoil and chaos. We have to resist the devil, stand firm in our faith, and know that we are not alone. There are other people who are suffering far greater than us. We must uphold our values, stand firm in God’s word, and pray diligently for our fellow Christians, our government, our citizens, and our own churches and families. The list is so long but praying is the least we can do.

Reread 1Peter 5:8-9 again. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (NIV) Be alert and of sober mind, but understand that God is in total control. We must keep our eyes on the cross and the true suffering that took place on our behalf. Resist Satan and his ways. Stand firm in the faith and cling to the One who already holds you in the palm of His hand. Come Lord Jesus Come!