Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

As part of my D-Groups Proverbs study, we are reading C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters.  Christianbook.com describes the novel's summary through the lens of the two key characters: Wormwood and Screwtape. "Wormwood, a demon apprentice, must secure the damnation of a young man who's just become a Christian. He seeks the advice of an experienced devil, his uncle Screwtape."  The novel chronicles a series of letters from Screwtape to Wormwood.  In the Preface, Lewis writes that are "two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.  One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."  Peter, in 1 Peter 5:8, warns believers of the power of Satan and how he is seeking souls to devour. My own studies over the years here in this blog include posts on how to avoid the second mistake, of becoming a "friend of the world."  This particular post stands out this morning.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You arm me and protect me from Satan - thank You Jesus for arming me and for your protection.  I am not deserving of such protection - my sins are great and they continue daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”

Matthew 8

And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:29

Tonight, I pause on both of my studies in Isaiah and Revelation to listen to John Piper's daily devotion for today - Solid Joys.  Here, Piper wants us to see how God is not waiting for the end times (Revelation) to defeat Satan - instead He is fighting know to win souls for His kingdom now and believers play a role of course!  Piper describes how in Matthew, Satan's minions (demons) want to know why Jesus seeks to torment them before the appointed time (end times).  Piper writes that believers should be encouraged to take on Satan before the appointed time: "[t]he resulting wartime mentality is this: Since Satan’s doom is sure, and he knows it, we can always remind him of it when he tempts us to follow him. We can laugh and say, “You’re out of your mind. Who wants to join forces with a loser?!”  Piper wants to be certain that we are aware of who we (not just us but the church) are up against (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2), and that it is not safe work but thrilling and we are on the victorious side!  Piper wraps up the post with: "[i]t is not safe. But it is thrilling. Many lives are lost. Satan’s forces are ever on the lookout for our subversive activity. Christ has guaranteed resurrection for all who fight to the death. But he has not guaranteed comfort, or acceptance from the world, or prosperity in enemy territory."  Encouraging words indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - I know You love me and You help me defeat temptation and sin...thank You Jesus! I am grateful for being on the victorious side - thank You!  Yet I am not deserving.  My sin continues - worry and anger, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Psalm 36

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. v9

God promises, not just here but throughout the Bible, that He is life, and that we need to be aware of the lies of this world that promise life through things, jobs, health, people, etc.  

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

In John 10:10, Jesus warns of Satan's influences for He is the Prince of This World and seeks to entice us with an earthly focus and with concerns of this world.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I have experienced the abundance and fullness of life You promise.  Thank You Jesus!  But I am not worth such blessings, mercies, etc.  I continue to worry and focus on this world.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin! Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.