There Really Is No Other Option
From the Armor Series
“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 CSB
Hey friend,
As we end our series on the armor of God, I hope you have been encouraged and challenged as we have dug deeper into the pieces of armor needed for spiritual victory. I know that I certainly have.
If Satan can trick us into believing that everyone and everything else is the real battle, then he has succeeded in his scheme. The fact of the matter is most of us don’t walk around with spiritual warfare on our minds on a daily basis. We are well aware of the battle between good versus evil, but if we are honest with ourselves, spiritual warfare just doesn’t hit our radar. And not because we aren’t spiritual enough. The enemy is just that good at directing our focus onto something other than the root issue.
1 Peter 5:8-9 tells us, “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.”
Being spiritually alert takes being intentional in our thought patterns and actions. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, immediately Satan put a target on our back. The enemy knows that he can’t change our eternity – he knows that what Jesus accomplished on the cross seals our redemption once and for all – the enemy knows this well and this is why he will stop at nothing to destroy you and me.
As a roaring lion, he will work overtime to steal your joy. He’s out to ruin your witness, your marriage, your kids, as well as your sphere of influence. We must resist him at all costs. And the way we resist him is by wearing, using, and activating our armor.
Sweet friend, there really is no other option. We either pick up our armor and wear it well or we walk defeated and devoured. Stand firm and be encouraged – because greater is He (God) that is in us than he (the enemy) that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
God,
Thank you for all you have taught me through this series. Thank you for always knowing what I need to live a victorious life this side of eternity. Open my eyes to see the spiritual battle that rages for my joy. Help me to stay alert and to stand firm in your strength. Because of you and the armor that you have given me, I can stand firm when the battle is raging. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.