Be on watch
Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.
Be alert,
They say: practice the presence of mind. ..Brother Lawrence has a book on practicing the presence of God. The moment we are alert of our nature, be it anger, be it sadness, be it happiness, be it enthusiasm, be it excitement, be it fear—any of the feeling that you are going through, it would benefit you if you are conscious of yourself, the present.
be on watch!
We need to be on watch. Things change like clouds passing. …They say nobody can step on the same river twice. …It’s moving,…. the clock is ticking…. Every second, ….even this moment already has passed. You cannot do anything about it.
But if you are alert and watchful, you can take full benefit out of it. You can produce, you can celebrate.
You can create a better life for you and people around you.
Or it will take you to where you may not even imagine-confusion, chaos, panic and anxiety, and what not.
Your enemy,
It doesn’t mind whether you are a good person, pious or not. …. You have a enemy, and his name, the devil. He’s full of evil.
He is alert and watchful. That’s why you have to be extra alert and extra watchful.
roams around
People who are serious sit and work, but this group, devil category, …they always roam about. They cannot enjoy being straight,… be it in their attitude or in their words or actions….. They roam about, like a rumor.
Around—roams around like a, like a roaring lion.
Mind the words, like a lion….. Lion is something real. Like a lion, is not real lion,…
Stupids are celebrating halloween these days. A child might even put on a costume, that of a lion, and other children might go panicking….. But you should know it’s only a mask that they are wearing. , and you shouldn’t be afraid of that.
Devil is not a lion. JESUS is the LION.
The Lion of Judah. But this one, the devil, looking like a lion, looking for someone…. It doesn’t bother, you are a good person, bad person, elderly or young.
Looking for someone to devour. Yes, that is its desire,… devour, ….eat up. It’s hungry for eating the blessings of people, and people themselves.
So, Be firm in your faith.
Even if it is as small as a mustard seed, be firm in that.
Resist him,
This is the tactic. All that you have to do is resist him. He might ask you to do something that is not pleasing to God,…. that is not in line with your vocation,….. that is not in line with God or His vocation.
But he will try and convince you; ……but you should resist.
The temptation needs resistance from your side. The rest, God will do.
because you know—please be aware of this fact—that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.
Sufferings, plural, not one. You always think only you have suffering. Many many sufferings.
You cannot even categorize. ….That many sufferings will fall on your way, …especially if you are a minister. But all that you have to do is ,be firm in your faith and resit him.
Abba, Thank You for reminding us to be alert and be on watch. Let Your Spirit hold our hands, to be firm in faith, and resit the enemy and be victors along with Christ, In Jesus’ Most Victorious Name, Amen.