Be Watchful
- Hopie Rodriguez
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
“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
Jesus warns us that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. Peter advises us to look out for the devil and to stay sober minded. My experience with the devil was always under the influence of alcohol. In the past, I was always looking for what I can get away with instead of looking for ways to glorify God. The enemy knew that alcohol caused me to stumble and I was foolish enough to let satan meet me there. This upcoming November will be my two year sobriety anniversary and I give all glory to the Lord our God. November 2023 is the year the Holy Spirit baptized me and I’ve been fully surrendered ever since. Praise God for granting me repentance!
Gretchen reminds us that satan is not omnipresent like our God is but “Satan prowls around, ready to disrupt with our lives and the lives of those we love. His only desire is to steal, kill and destroy. While he cannot read our minds, he can see and hear us. He studies us, he learns our behaviors and exploits our propensities.” This is why it is so important to be near the Father. When we’re equipped with scripture, we don’t give him a way to sneak into our lives. James 4:7 comes to mind when I think of satan prowling around. James says, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We sometimes glance over the submit yourselves part of scripture but that is the most important part. The Lord purifies us and when we’ve been cleansed by Him the devil has nothing against us.
As a believer, the best way to recognize the devil is to discern what does not come from God. Whether it’s with your thoughts, the people around you, and even music! Satan will hold these temptations over you if you aren’t careful. It’s a challenge to surrender those temptations at times but God always gives us a way out. Gretchen tells us to stay in the Word daily. I believe that every christian should desire daily interaction with our Father. He should be the center of our lives not just apart of it.
Heavenly Father, protect us from the evil one. Give us the discernment to recognize the devils motives and help us take up the shield of faith when we’re in battle. Help us seek You first. Help us stay in close contact with You. Help us fight like You. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
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