Watching a lion pounce on its prey is mind-blowing, to say the least. Lions hunt with masterclass tactfulness and precision. They do not amble around in plain sight while on a hunting spree. Instead, they stalk their prey undercover and only attack while near.
When they are close enough, they stealthily charge at their prey and knock them over before digging their teeth into their neck. Within minutes, their kill lies lifeless at their feet.
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).
Peter likened the devil to a roaring lion in search of prey. He, therefore, warned believers to be alert and sober. Just like real lions stalk their unsuspecting prey, believers often go about life unaware of the dangers lurking around them.
If we are not alert and sober, the devil stealthily lunges on us and wreaks havoc on our lives. Jesus warned that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He is up to no good.
However, despite all the ill intentions that the devil has, believers are more than conquerors. The enemy would love an opportunity to annihilate you. That's a fact.
But if you are alert and of sober mind, you will be able to dodge the snares he has laid out for you. Paul stated that he was not ignorant of the devices of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11), and neither should we.
Here are five ways believers can ensure they remain alert and sober.
1. Submit to God
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7)
In the above Scripture, James was reprimanding the church because they had allowed several sins to take root in their lives. There was fighting, murder, lust, covetousness, and adultery.
It is clear that the devil was having a field day among these believers. He had managed to pounce on them and was destroying them.
James urges them to submit to God and resist the devil. The only way they would be able to resist the devil is if they were submitted to God. When we submit to God, we pursue His will above ours.
We strive to obey His Word. We stop living and invite Christ to live in us (Galatians 2:20). We deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow him (Luke 9:23).
When tempted by the devil, Jesus overcame because he was submitted to God. He countered the devil's suggestions by quoting the Word of God. He resisted the devil until he packed his bags and left him (Mathew 4:1-11).
We, too, can overcome the temptations that the devil lines up on our paths. The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sober, righteous, and godly lives (Titus 2:11-12).
2. Watch and Pray
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mathew 26:40-41).
In the above passage, Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion were imminent. His disciples were greatly distressed, and so was He. If there was a time Jesus could have snubbed prayer, it would have been this moment of great anguish.
He even admitted to His disciples that His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even to death (Mathew 26:38). He then implored them to watch with Him. Jesus knew that He and His disciples needed the father's strength and wisdom to be able to sail through the grueling moment.
He knew that the disciples would be tempted to deny him. They would be tempted to give up all hope after seeing their master crucified. They needed to watch and pray so that they would be empowered to overcome.
The enemy often pounces on us at our weakest moment when we are extremely vulnerable. He tempted Jesus when Jesus was hungry from a 40-day fast.
One way of remaining alert when faced with our weaknesses and frailty is by being faithful in prayer. Prayer insulates believers from falling prey to temptation. When we are at our weakest, we need to persist in prayer so that we are empowered to overcome.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).
3. Take up The Shield of Faith
Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16).
Job was dealt with fiery darts by the enemy. He lost his children, possessions, and health. His wife even urged him to curse God and die. But Job held on to His integrity. He held on to His faith in God, and that's what carried him through his period of suffering.
While preying on you, the devil will want you to toss away your faith in God so that he can have a field day. This is when you need to whip out your shield of faith and neutralize his fiery darts.
He will bombard you with false information, just like he did while tempting Jesus after his 40-day fast. Jesus countered the devil's lies through the Word of God.
Jesus warned Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat. But Jesus reassured Peter that He had prayed for him and that his faith would not fail (Luke 22: 31-32).
Our hope in God serves as an anchor to our souls (Hebrews 6:19). When all is said and done, like Paul, we should be able to confidently declare that we have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
4. Endure Hardship
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 timothy 4:5).
Part of being sober and alert involves enduring difficult times. It has the spiritual tenacity to stick it through even when the enemy is hot at your heels.
Our walk of faith is laced with trials and temptations, and the enemy takes great delight when we succumb to these trials. That's why the scriptures admonish us to run the race with endurance. Jesus, though being God, went the whole nine yards in experiencing trouble.
He was reviled (and eventually crucified) by the very same people He came to save. But He did not abandon His mission. He endured the cross and despised the shame.
Paul encouraged Timothy to endure hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). The enemy will want to see us throw in the towel at first sight of trouble.
But like Jesus, we can dig our heels in and remain firm. We should not cast away our confidence, for it has great reward (Hebrews 10:35).
5. Guard Your Heart
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23)
The state of our hearts will determine whether we are able to resist temptation or not. If we choose to walk in the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Paul urged the Philippians to set their mind on things that were true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8).
Jesus taught that the things that defile a man proceed from the heart — evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, and blasphemies (Mathew 15:18-20).
We are, therefore, to guard our hearts with all diligence because our success or failure is hinged on what goes on therein.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean That the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood?
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