Because You Know

“Be self-controlled and alert. 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 your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8–9, NIV 1984).

My Musings – This is one of those familiar texts. So familiar, in fact, that we sometimes have a tendency to speed through it thinking, “yeah, I got this.”

• Self-controlled– restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires. When dealing with “roaring lion,” responding impulsively or emotionally is dangerous, and an indication that one is not prepared for Spiritual warfare.
• Alert - a state of careful watching and readiness especially for danger or opportunity. Watching for signs of danger so you aren’t taken by surprise. But even that is insufficient, if you are not prepared and ready to engage in battle…