In The Jungle
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“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
When Satan pounces directly on an issue in my life, the Word tells me to be bold, be faithful. During a challenge, it’s natural for a believer to go directly to God and remember He’s in control. I have dealt with cancer twice in my life and felt especially close to God through the challenges. Praying for strength and healing, I relied on the Word for peace.
But it hasn’t always been that way. During one particular college year, my daily life was a cesspool of sin. I had no personal time with God and bad influences lead to one mistake after another. I ran with a wild crowd, ignored all the signs of trouble and avoided good influences. I spent Sunday mornings sleeping off the night before and avoided Christian friends that made me feel guilty.
It didn’t take long before Satan roared, tore at my weak spot and defeated me to my knees. From that position, I could only look up to the redeeming face and arms of Christ. After much God-aided effort and several months of waiting on His time, the Great Comforter squelched the beast I’d allowed into my life.
First Peter tells us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion.” Lucifer takes advantage of times when we’re not alert. He sees our weakness, knows our vulnerabilities. If our lives are smooth, it’s easy to drop our guard, neglect daily time in the Word and even neglect our prayer life. When a Bible gathers dust, a relationship with God becomes a stagnant pool of water –foul and muddied.
As I’ve aged, I’ve become more aware of my weaknesses. I try to keep alert and avoid people and circumstances that make me vulnerable. Daily prayer, time spent listening for His voice and remaining in His word are necessary. This daily walk with Christ grounds the lion into submission and keeps me out of the clutches of Lucifer’s flesh-ripping claws.
Questions: When was the last time you allowed the lion through the gate? What do you do to keep the lion at bay?
8 Responses to “In The Jungle”
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Wincy,
That is so awesome that you recognized that you had let the lion take over your space with God! That’s always the first step…recognizing the battle. Remember that 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness. So although the lion is still in you, you don’t need to worry. God by His Holy Spirit will empower you to live the life that He desires. This article explains more about this…do check it out. http://powertochange.com/experience/spiritual-growth/start/
Today i was very upset over few misunderstandings that i had yesterday. I reached my office in tears. I let the lion to take over my space with God. I just let my thought lose and did not remember that He is in control. I feel bad that He is hurt that i did not run to Him. I prayed but still i felt empty and now i realize that the lion is still in me and i am still worrying. But i know my mistakes now and i pray truly God would make things clear.
Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to visit and leave us your comments. We are so encouraged here on the site to hear how devotionals that are written months ago, then scheduled and posted are just what you need on the day that they go up on the site and get sent out.
Em, let me pray for you right now:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for Em and her heartfelt desire to remain pure physically, mentally and emotionally. Help her to daily spend time in Your word and in prayer and to be on the alert. Thank you that she belongs to You and desires to follow you with her whole heart. Amen
It`s not always when my life is running smoothly that I neglect our *God & me* time togeather. I`m recovering from a car accident,not really serious except for the concussion-confusion, plus aches & pain etc.Lately, I`ve been trying to play catch-up with spring cleaning-family that I haven`t seen in year visiting. The other day I went to do my daily devotions & was shocked at how many days I had missed. satan knows how I get all upset when that or something like that happens & I`d waste more time having a pity party,being a late bloomer & coming from a very difficult childhood it was very hard for me to trust that He was a Father of forgive & forget,but God is good!& He showed me how far He`s brought me…so I repent & started all overagain…enjoying our *God & me* time togeather ….tears of laughter…tears of pain,& tears of *my*understanding!
Because my weakness is known to this lion, I also must remind this beast of it’s weakness. I may not always be alert because of my fleshly man fighting agains my spirit and as hard as it may be, I wake up every morning thank ing my Heavenly Father for allowing me to constantly in His presence. I thank him for waking me up and giving me strength to get through the day, I thank him for sooo many blessings he has sent into my life. throughout the day when I do suspect that roaring beast I thank our Heavenly Father for being with me, and working through me that I may do that which is right. I can’t tell you what may or may not be right in our Father’s eyes, however, my hope is that he is pleased with me. So, with that said, no one is better than anyone eles man may judge himself by what he has accomplished here in the physical world. However, Our Heavenly Father knows what is hidden in the spirit of man.I can safely say I am a work in progress.
Thank you so much for this timely devotional. I was encouraged by many things that were shared in this devotional, particularly when you said you had to avoid ‘many things AND people’ that may lead us to do the wrong things. That is a hard lesson I’m learning recently as I’m getting older (as a young adult) learning to sort whom I should & should not be ‘friends’ with/ get close to. Growing up I was taught as a Christian girl, we should try to love & be friendly with everyone, but it is difficult when we have to put our foot down & lovingly avoid certain people/ types if they are not good influences in the end (even friends who were previously close to us). It is painful but trusting God knows what He is doing (even if it is a bit lonely too getting older).
Pls lastly pray for me, to stay pure physically, mentally, emotionally, which is very difficult in this stage as a single. Thank you for being so honest, you’re right – there are so many little things that try to pull at us. Pls pray for me to stay strong & pure, on the internet, at work, media, even down to friendships. Thank you for listening & praying.
Thanks, Gail, for a reminder of the power of God’s Word and the peace that comes when we stay in communication with Him.
After 20 years of alcohol and substance abuse my son returned to his “first love” and has been free of addiction for 11 years now. He attributes his ability to stay free to his relationship with the Lord. He starts each morning with a time in the Scriptures and tells me the Word is his attitude adjuster and his strength. His Bible is always on his truck seat or on his dashboard and he smiles when he says he keeps it there in case he needs a midday “adjustment” or refocus.
I know for myself that the times in my life I have been the most lost were times when I had no daily time with the Lord and spent no time in the Word. I praise the Lord for His wisdom in giving us the road map and encouagement of His Word. I pray the Lord will continue to give me the discipline to stay “connected.”
How true, Gail. How true. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve walked with the Lord it just takes a moment of failing to put on the armor of God. One day, one week to slide and consider other things more important than time in the Word and on our face before our Father in Heaven. My translation says Satan lurks about, like a roaring lion, and lurk he does. Waiting for that one moment. Once off the path from following in the footprints of Christ, for a number of years,I believed Satan’s lie that “God would never forgive me for that.” One evening things had gotten so bad I just stood outside and looked toward the heavens and prayed the most powerful prayer of all. . .”God help me.” And He did. There is no one like Jehovah, El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty and Jesus Christ, my Lord!