Spiritual Radar
1 Peter 5:8-9: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
This passage describes our enemy Satan as a prowling lion eagerly looking to destroy and consume us. God does not tell us to flee or to try to appease the lion. Instead, we are to stand firm, remain alert and resist the devil.
Spiritual warfare demands a constant vigilance toward the enemy's activities and our own weaknesses. Spiritual alertness, often referred to as discernment in the Bible, is much like radar. In military campaigns, the mere presence of radar will sometimes discourage enemy air attacks. Likewise, our awareness can deter Satan's attempts to discourage, deceive, or defeat us.
In his instructions on our spiritual defenses, Paul warns us to "be alert."
Ephesians 6:10-18: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm them, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Not only must we use the full armor of God, but we should know the weaknesses in our character that might make us vulnerable to defeat.
Remember, there are no holidays, sick leave, or peace treaties in this battle. Our radar should always be operating.*
Food for thought: Memorize Ephesians 6:10-18 so you may stand strong against the enemy, protected by God's armor.
Futher Reading:
Genesis 3:1: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?'"
2 Corinthians 2:11: "In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."
1 Thessalonians 5:6: "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled."
*Sherman, Dean. Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian: How to Live in Victory and Retake the Land: YWAM Publishing, 1990
