How He Works

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (New King James Version)

Victories are short lived and trouble abounds when we do not understand who our greatest enemy is and how he operates. Satan opposes God and thus opposes any who belong to God. It is his desire to keep individuals from coming into relationship with their Creator, but if he is unsuccessful at that, he goes to any lengths to keep them from walking intimately with Him. The Bible is clear that we are to be aware of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Many of us are alert to the things of the world and the pull of our flesh, but we give little attention to the way the enemy is seeking to devour or destroy us individually.

It has taken me decades to learn to detect his fingerprints on my day….and to be honest, I am still learning. It is usually after the facts that I realize he was active once again…..or at least his accomplices were! Any wounds, unresolved issues, weaknesses, propensities, and unrealized ambitions are ammunition he uses against me. Today it was feelings of regret over handling some relationships wrong. I found myself wondering why I tend to repeat the same mistakes. What is it that drives me to do the things I do? I should have realized that the forthcoming feelings of condemnation, self loathing, hopelessness, and despair were signs that he was prowling! But I didn’t.

Instead, my Father gave me needed direction. He helped me to see that my focus had once again turned from Him to my past and joy would return only as I did an about face. Instead of beating myself up over what can’t be changed, I needed to look at who He is and what He is doing in me. What I lacked in knowledge and wisdom at the time, I now have and am urged to act upon it. It doesn’t matter that I made wrong choices at one time. What matters is that I start making right choices NOW! My past does not define me or dictate the course of action I can now take. My past is simply experiences I can learn from and then proceed forward.

The signs of the enemy faded quickly as I saw what he was using against me. Hopefully, victory will come sooner next time. He is a defeated foe and I need to live out of the truth that “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.” I cannot stop him from prowling or seeking to devour, but I can limit him greatly by the grace and power of almighty God!

Father, You are always closer than the enemy. Help me to remember that often! Amen.

God's Armor Glenville
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J6lok4sGMSQ

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours. http://pathways2freedom.blogspot.com/