Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ~1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
The Lord tells us that we are to be alert and of sober mind. A sober mind is vigilant, ready, and cautious. Do those traits describe your spiritual preparedness? Are you ready for trials and temptations? Have you made up your mind that you are going to overcome in every situation because the Lord is with you? Jesus said in this world we are going to have trouble. Plan on it and prepare for attacks from the enemy just like you would prepare for anything else you were sure was going to happen. Identify where he gets you off your “rocker”. Start looking for ways he steals your peace and causes you to doubt God. He attacks in our mind, through our emotions, in our bodies and through the words and actions of others. Scripture teaches the enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy. That is just the opposite of what the Lord wants to do in your life. Jesus says He came to give us abundant life. When was the last time you experienced trouble? It probably wasn’t too long ago! But there is good news. Jesus didn’t stop at telling us we were going to have trouble. He finished that statement by telling us to take heart because He had already overcome the world. Your victory in every situation has been secured. Isn’t it a whole lot easier to be prepared for the battle when you know going in you already have the victory? That is the promise Jesus made to us. We already have the victory. So, we need to take heart and be confident!
Taking heart is a whole lot more than talking the talk. We have to walk the walk. The Lord tells us in James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV) It’s not enough to just proclaim the word of God. We must apply it to our lives and live it. We have to believe it and then act upon it. If you believe Jesus’ word to you that you can take heart because He has already overcome everything you will ever face, then what are you worried about? We can't run around saying "God will help us" and finish the statement with "I just don't know what I'm going to do". You aren't going to do it, remember? It's done! God tells us in Hebrews 6:12 “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (NIV) Patience is walking constantly and consistently in the faith that God is God and He has done what He said He would do no matter what everything around you looks like. Some people like to say it’s not letting your feathers get ruffled. How many times a day do you let your feathers get ruffled? Jesus said in John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (NIV) Who is letting their heart get troubled? Who is letting their feathers get ruffled? We are! Jesus said, “don’t let”. How do we do that? We accept God’s word as truth, and we encourage ourselves and each other that it is going to be through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. You have the victory so stop magnifying your problems and start magnifying your God. Don’t let your feathers get ruffled, whatever you are going through, you are a child of the living God who always keeps His word. He has overcome the world, just for you and me!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33 (NIV)
What will you overcome today because the Lord is with you?
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