DEVOURED

"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 NLT

This morning Marc, Teddy (our golden retriever) and I went through our normal, daily routine. Marc and Teddy met up with their friends at the dog park and I went running. We returned home about 6:30 and fed both dogs and then set about getting ready for our day. Marc set a tri-tip (the very one he had marinated and barbequed on Sunday)out on the counter with plans of making a sandwich to take with him to work. He was looking forward to this sandwich. It was not just going to be any sandwich. This would be the sandwich of all sandwiches - a masterpiece!

I headed down the hallway leaving Marc to make his sandwich. I was making the bed when echoing through the house I heard Marc's cry, "Teddy! No! No! No!" The cry was followed by much commotion and the sound of the dog door and then the sound of the patio door and then silence. I hurried down the hall to see what had happened. I didn't need Marc to piece the puzzle together for me. I entered the kitchen and on the counter was the plate on which the tri-tip had been sitting - it was empty! There was not one morsel of meat left to be had.

Marc returned to the kitchen feeling understandably frustrated. He turned to me and said, "I only turned my back for a second." As I returned to the task of making the bed it struck me how our walk with the Lord is like this incident with Teddy at times. We have something on the plate of our lives that we really enjoy or are looking forward to enjoying when it is snatched away. It could be: a marriage, a ministry, a treasured friend, good intentions, or our health. You name it, it could be sitting on the center piece of the plate of your life.

Suddenly you hear it, a gulp and when you turn back to look that treasured thing is gone and not a morsel left for you. You run to the Lord about it and breathless you say, "But Lord, I only turned my attention from you for a moment." The Lord sits down with you in the misty morning light and gently says, "Child, do not turn away me, even for a second. The enemy: the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." Satan looks and watches for an opportunity when your guard is down: you are tired, overworked, depressed, angry etc... When you are weak and not looking he will make his move, and just like Teddy watched for his opportunity, while Marc's back was turned, to jump on the counter to snatch the meat and devour it, Satan watches for the opportunity when you are the weakest and your back is turned and he will jump on the opportunity to snatch away and devour.

Dear one, heed Peter's warning in 1st Peter 5:8 Be careful! The NASB says to be on the alert. The NIV says to be self-controlled and alert. So, my friend, are you alert? Are you watching? Are you being careful? Or have you turned away, living carelessly? Do you think in your heart, "well, I will only live this way for a while and then I'll turn back. I know I haven't been in the Word for myself, but it's only for today." My friend, it only takes a moment. So what should we do? We find the answer in Ephesians

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

Ephesians 6:10-18

So as you head into your day:

Be careful!

Be alert!

Stand firm

Put on the full armor of God

Pray

Thank you Lord for this reminder today to be alert and watchful AND to not turn away from you even for a moment. Thank you that I do not need to walk in fear but I do need to walk in obedience to you. Help me put on every piece of your armor daily and to pray. Amen.

A Conversations at the Well

Diana Morgan

January 13, 2010