The Proper View of the Struggle!

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)   
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

          On the island of Jersey there is an area called 'the Devil's Hole'. This is a great black vault in the ground. Fixed into this hole is a statue. It is an artist's idea of what the devil looks like. The figure has a forked tail and horns coming out of his head. He is black, and he has a rather foolish-looking grin around his mouth. When most people see it a smile comes over their faces. This is what Satan likes more than anything. He wants everyone to think of him as a harmless figure of fun, as someone who doesn't really exist and there is no reason to be afraid of him.  This is the thing that we have to be careful of as believers.

          The apostle Peter cautions and warns us how important it is to view suffering the proper way.  He shares with us the source of our suffering which is Satan.  He refers to Satan as the adversary and devil which refers to him as an opponent that accuses or slanders.  Peter warns us we have an enemy that is active and is always plotting on how he can disguise himself to throw us off balance so he can destroy us.  Peter commands us in the midst of what is going on in our lives to be sober.  The challenge that we face as believers is to remain clear headed when the enemy throws different things at us.  We have to exercise control of our mind.  Don’t allow your situation to intoxicate you to the point where you are in a mental frenzy.  Remain calm, collected in spirit, and temperate in the midst of our combat zone.   No matter how bad it gets, remain disciplined.  The reason we have to be sober is so we can deal with what is real.  We cannot numb ourselves with temporary fixes so we avoid the reality of our situation. We have to keep our mind alert through the vehicle of prayer. 

          Peter also tells us to be vigilant.  Another principle we have to practice is to remain alert and watchful while we go though our struggles.  We have to make sure we are spiritually alert and not asleep.  It is imperative to be spiritually alert and pay attention to every area of our life.  If we remain vigilant, we will always be prepared to properly respond any spiritual assault the devil.  Our soberness and vigilance will determine if we are successful in handling our spiritual conflict. 

God bless and keep you is my prayer.