1Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) cautions the believer against the tricks and tactics of the enemy. It says, “8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” This is a flaming red-flag alert designed to get the Child of God’s attention. We’re not to pick a specific time of the day, week, month, or year to be alert. God warns us to STAY alert. To be aware at all times that we have a great enemy, the devil, and he combs the earth looking for an opening into our lives whereby he can attack us.
We can’t afford to be fooled for one minute. Heavenly Father has told us that the enemy’s main objective is to take us out. It’s to devour our lives and tear them to shreds, but God has not left us defenseless. He has given us impenetrable armor. In Ephesians 6:10-13(NLT), He tells us, “10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. “
God would not tell us to do something we didn’t need to do. We must put on all the armor God has provided so we can stand firm when we are attacked. Isaiah 54:17 tells us that no weapons that the devil forms against us will prosper, but this doesn’t stop him for trying. It doesn’t stop him from forming weapons, but if we stay armored up, they will not achieve the harm they are intended to cause. 1Peter 5:8-9 reminds us that the devil roams the earth looking and searching to steal, kill, and destroy. Our job is to make sure those openings are covered with the armor of God.
We are not perfect. All of us have weaknesses and they are addictions, phobias, negative behaviors and attitudes, or other remnants of fear that we’ve been indulging for years. It can feel very much like we’re getting away with harboring these things, but the truth is that they provide just the opening the enemy is sniffing around for. God tells us to get them handled by staying in His Word, praying often, and pursuing His purpose for our lives. All these practices provide the thick spiritual covering that is resilient and unshakable.
We should never cower in a corner in fear of what the enemy is up to. In Romans 8:37, God tells us that we’re more than conquerors. 1John 4:4 tells us that we have overcome demonic influence and forces, because the Spirit of God that lives inside us is greater than the prince of darkness that is operating in this world. 1John 4:4 is a reminder that the devil works through people, and they want to make our lives as miserable as possible. They want us to feel bad about ourselves so that we are full of doubt and condemnation. We must see through this. Don’t waste your precious energy allowing people to penetrate your armor and get under your skin. This will cause you to lose valuable time on this Christian journey, and life is much too short to give these plots our precious energy.
Stay armored up! Know who you are and whose you are. Spend quality time with God, because this is so important to Him. It’s what He wants from us. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Spending time with Him keeps us spiritually strong and being obedient to His Word will keep us continually under His covering. Psalm 91:1(NLT) says, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” This is where we always want to be, living in the shelter of the Most High God, staying ever so close to Him, and resting always in His shadow. Regardless of the tricks and tactics the devil uses, we will always have the peace, courage, and faith to stand firm, if we stay cloaked in God’s armor. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Stay Armored Up!”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.