Ways out life difficulties

This life is warfare. As human beings, we must come to the realization that life is full of battles, and we all have one common enemy who is the devil. This enemy has been around for a very long time and his mission is simply to kill, to steal and to destroy lives. On your own as a human being, you cannot withstand or defeat the devil but with God with you, you are sure of victory.

 Peter had a first-hand experience of an attack on his life by the devil. Peter was almost consumed by the devil but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who interceded for Peter and saved him. Remember that our enemy the devil goes about like a lion seeking whom to devour. Let us briefly consider the lifestyle of lions to also understand our enemy the devil. Lions move around from place to place in the jungle looking for animals to attack and devour.

Lions prowl or hide from their prey in the dark only to strike when they least expect. Lions watch for the weakness and weak points of their prey before launching an attack.  Lions usually avoid attacking strong animals that may fight back and pose a problem for them or cause them an injury. Likewise, our enemy the devil utilizes these same strategies as the lions. The devil goes to and fro on the earth seeking lives to attack and destroy.  

Note that the devil is not omniscient like our God Almighty. The devil also does not stay in one particular place. The devil moves about from place to place in the spiritual realm seeking for whom to destroy. Also, note that the devil is best at disguise. The devil is not an angel of light, but the devil can disguise as an angel of light to deceive people who are seeking the light of God in their lives. Through this disguise of the devil, the devil manipulates religion(s) of this world and uses it to deceive many souls and send them into destruction.

The third characteristic of the devil we are considering is that the devil is always on the lookout for weaknesses and weak points in the lives of believers. From Peter's example, the devil spotted the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of Peter even as he was with Christ and the devil wanted to attack Peter's life. Peter was bragging that he would follow Christ to the prison and even die with him; he was neither sober nor vigilant at that time to realize that it is neither by physical power nor might but by the Spirit of God.

When Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples, only Peter tried to oppose the washing of his feet by our Lord, Jesus Christ, eventually, when he agreed to be washed, he wanted his whole body washed instead of just his feet. All these were weaknesses and vulnerabilities which the enemy was trying to exploit against Peter, but we thank God for His grace upon Peter. Finally, the devil avoids those who are spiritually strong, sober and vigilant in the spiritual realm and prefers to go after weak believers to molest and harass them. 

So, am was admonishing us as Christians to be humble before God. To be humble before God is to subdue the flesh and its worldly desires. Peter also admonished us to cast all our cares and worries and anxieties upon God knowing that God cares for us. You should trust God believing and knowing that God has a perfect plan for your life according to His purpose. As a born again Christian who has given his or her life to Christ, you should surrender everything pertaining to your life to Him trusting and believing that Jesus will not mismanage your life.

It is like the case of a patient who is being taken into a surgical theater for an operation, the person signs a consent form allowing the doctor to cut open his or her body and that patient agrees to accept whatever the outcome may be. Basically, that patient has entrusted his or life into the doctor's hands and that is the same way we should entrust our lives into the hands of Christ as our Lord and Savior. 

Also, I will advise us to be sober and vigilant. To be sober is to be alert at all times and not allow yourself to be carried away by the things of the world that surround us. Truly, in this era of social media that we currently live in, it is quite easy to get carried away by the many things in circulation around us every day. As soldiers of Christ, we should inculcate spiritual discipline into our lives and be ready in the Lord at all times. We should also be vigilant and spiritually sensitive to the tricks and manipulations of the enemy. Please always remember the only way a sheep can survive in the midst of wolves is by being sober and vigilant at all times. 

 So, you now need to make a decision. Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life? Is God with you? If God is with you, then the devil cannot stand against you. If God is not with you, then who is with you in this battle against the devil?  Who are you relying on for your power and strength, or what are you relying on? 

You need to ask yourself these questions to determine your strengths and ability to overcome the enemy. On your own alone, you cannot defeat the devil. So, what is your plan or strategy to confront the devil? Or, do you want to call a truce with the devil and abandon your faith in God? Do you just want to compromise with the devil and follow after the ways of sin and the world? There comes a point of realization in life when a man realizes that he cannot save himself and therefore yields his life to God.

So long as you think you can save yourself, you will still be struggling through the vicissitudes of life but when you realize that you cannot save yourself from the enemy, but there is a God who can save you, then you will easily surrender to Him. God does not condemn you, God is only asking you to repent and come to Him by accepting His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ into your life. One sure thing is that the devil can never defeat you if Christ is with you.