Stand Firm

Day 25- Standing Firm

1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

There is a war going on everyday in our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. The war is spiritual but its effects and results are always physical. The war is not fought on physical grounds or with physical weapons, but in our minds, hearts and lives and with weapons that the human mind cannot fathom. No wonder the Bible says in  2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV:  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.... It is a spiritual war, fought with spiritual weapons and fought daily and regularly while we are on the earth.

The warnings above are therefore apt and relevant to our generation today. Somehow, we have watered down the fighting part of our walk and emphasized more of the comfort part. We have told people that our God is a God of prosperity, without reminding them also that he is a God of war. Have you seen anyone dividing the spoils of war without fighting a single battle? We have told people to come to Christ, and all their problems will be solved, we have forgotten to remind them that there is a yoke that Christ expects me to bear, with His help.  Little wonder we now have 'Christians' who think it is a jolly ride, who are in it for what they can get out of it, and will walk away when the heat becomes unbearable.

Paul warns here that we have to be alert and sober. These remind me of a watchman on duty: he cannot associate with frivolities while on duty; he dare not sleep off while on duty, it could mean death; he must be on patrol, alert to any danger and ready to fight off any evil. There will be fights, there will be attacks, there will be opposition. That is the picture of our walk with God. Whoever says that Christianity is 'easy' has either be lied to or has not fully grasped the expectations of God for the new relationship s/he has with God. The devil is never sleeping or resting, neither are we allowed to do so. He is looking for people to devour, we are to resist him, by standing firm in the faith.  There is an assurance of victory because He who leads us has defeated the devil once and for all, and he alone is capable of granting us continual victory over the devil and his wiles. The devil has been defeated, but we must stand firm and secure that victory every day of our lives. One joy also is that it is not peculiar to us alone; the entire body of Christ is at war but we are led by a captain who has already won.

As you go out this week, remember that the battle is not fought on physical plains but is fought in the spiritual. Victory has been secured but we must fight to secure it in our lives. We are never left alone to fight, His presence is an ever-constant part of our lives. Victory is assured, because his time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me depend on you totally as I fight the good fight of faith. All I need has been provided and secure in you; may I constantly trust in your power and grace for constant, daily strength to secure what your death and life have established for us. Amen.