Being Vigilant

by Charity Pence

This Week's Verse: "Be sober, be vigilant; because the adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Isn't it amazing how we can read something in the Bible and get one message, but the next time we read it we get something else? God does this to me all the time, and maybe you've had this experience also. 1 Peter 5:8 is a verse I've long been familiar with. In fact, it is one I have posted on a wall in my house. Every time I've considered that verse, I always took it to mean that we have to resist temptation. And I think that's a fair interpretation. However, this morning as I was doing my "God time," I was shown something else. You see, I'm also very familiar with 1 Peter 5:6-7. However, for whatever reason, I've never associated those verses with the ones following. In my mind I have separated them as if they were two different messages. Cast your cares upon the Lord. Okay, don't worry; trust that God will take care of our needs/circumstances. Be sober, be vigilant. Okay, be aware of the devil's schemes. All that makes sense right? But what God reminded me of was that the devil doesn't just tempt us to separate us from God. He also tries to hinder us, to turn our focus.

This is an area that was causing me quite a struggle recently. The devil was keeping me so busy with negative circumstances that I was keeping my focus on my "worries" instead of on God. But when reading verses 6-9 as one passage, I am reminded that we have to remain vigilant because the devil will try to destroy us with negative circumstances. But instead of giving in, we are to give those concerns to God and be comforted that we are not alone in our struggles. The devil does this to our brothers and sisters in Christ because he wants nothing more than to keep us away from God.

I heard something else recently in a sermon. The devil doesn't mess with us because he wants our souls doomed with him. His true focus is on God, who he hates so much that he doesn't want God to win. To the devil, we are just casualties in his war. Is that what you want to be? A casualty? Or do you want to be one of God's warriors?

Ephesians 6:13, 14 gives us this challenge, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand." Don't give in. Be God's warrior and fight the devil. Don't let him use you as his pawn in his battle against God.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so amazing. Thank You for this revelation You have given. I needed this reminder, Lord. Thank You for equiping me to be Your warrior. Please help me when I grow weary. I refuse to become a casualty. I want to be Your warrior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Power Verses:
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

I CAN Drive 55!

By Denise Reed

This Week’s Verse: Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NIV)

Devotion: Confession: I used to speed. When I was younger and less responsible I wanted to get places as quick as I could. My motto was, “Move over and let me drive!” When I became more responsible, hauling around two children, I changed my ways, or so I thought. One day, as I’m driving along with the kids the back, singing along with the Christian radio station on, I look down and see that I am driving a nice 60mph in a 55mph zone. Perfect! Then God and I had this conversation:

God: “Driving over the speed limit is breaking the law, and breaking the law is a sin."

Me: “But God, cops won’t pull anyone over for going just 5mph over the limit. So if they don’t pull me over for it, it’s OK, right? Everybody does it."

God: “But what does the speed limit sign say? It doesn’t say 60pmh. You are breaking the law! You are sinning without remorse. Sin leads to death!"

And then God gave me this thought: Say I am driving just a meager 5mph over the limit and get into a fatal accident. Will I be rejected from Heaven because I was sinning without any remorse or thought of repentance? Wow! I decided I am not going to be denied those pearly gates for something so small.

As I continued to think about this new revelation over the next few weeks, God revealed something else to me. By speeding every time I got behind the wheel, I had been living a lifestyle of sin. Lifestyle of sin!? Isn’t that term just used for serial murderers, alcoholics, rapists, the sexually immoral and all those other people? Yes! But I was acting no better than any of them! This second revelation has opened my eyes to all people who are living a lifestyle of sin and the fact that it’s not my job to judge them. My sin is not better than theirs, nor does it receive a lesser degree of punishment.

So now as I drive along with my cruise control set at 55mph (thank you Lord for cruise control), it feels liberating to know that I am not breaking the law. My heart no longer skips a beat when I see a police car. The title of this devotion is not a misquoted lyric of Sammy Hagar’s, because now, I really CAN drive 55!

Lord, thank you for giving me this revelation of my lifestyle of sin. Please continue to show me my sin that put up a wall between my heart and You. Amen.

Application: Are you living a lifestyle of sin? Is there a guilty pleasure you let yourself indulge in just every once in a while? These both put up a wall between you and God. Repent from your ways. Ask Him to reveal to you these areas of your heart.

Power Verses: Psalm 139:23, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thought." (NIV)

1 John 1:19, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV)

Hebrews 10:26-27, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." (NIV)

The Armor of God

By Bethany Lashbrook

Today's Verse: 1Corinithians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Devotion:

I was listening to the radio on my way to work, when I heard a song that said something like this: "but the devil was sitting on my shoulder." I immediately thought of that cartoon image -you know, the one where an angel is on one shoulder and Satan with his pitchfork is on the other. Typically, in cartoons, this is when Tom would decide to go ahead and chase Jerry. Or Wyley Coyote would try to eat the Roadrunner one more time!

Once a temptation enters our head, it seems to stick. Actually, it's hard to think of anything else. But the bible reminds us to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, NIV)

Typically, at the end of these cartoons, Tom and Wyley Coyote would fall flat on their faces and hold up a sign that proclaimed "help"! And typically, this is what happens when we fall into temptation. Even if things seem to be going okay at first, it usually doesn't last. We must cling to the word daily so we are reminded of the power the Lord gives us to deny such temptations in our lives.

Ephesians 6:14-17 reminds us: "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NIV)

We can be armed and ready for hardships in our lives, for temptations, and also for joyful times. In all times we can pick up this armor and fight against Satan and his whisperings in our ear and tempting lies he lays on our shoulders.

Dear Lord, thank you for placing the holy spirit in our lives so we are equipped with you on a daily basis. Help us, as we get dressed in the morning, to also place on our full armor of you - so we are prepared daily to walk with you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: Are you struggling with a temptation right now? Join me this week and as you are getting ready in the morning, try repeating this scripture - out loud - and let's clothe ourselves with the armor of God this week!

Power Verses:

Matthew 6: 9-13, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’" (NIV)

Romans 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (NIV)