The roaring lions
In Jeremiah 1:4 the Lord states in a word:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
The enemy doesn’t know you sweet reader but he does study your consistent destructive patterns. Then he’ll plant the seeds for you to be tempted by.
Do you drink when you get overwhelmed to escape? Do you sleep around when you’re lonely? What about falling into depression from the never-ending thoughts your mind nibbles on? Or perhaps you pack your schedule so you don’t have to go home to an empty house to hear the quiet and deal with the God shaped hole only He can fill.
I don’t say any of those things to hurt. They sting for me too. Especially the last one in which I am terribly guilty of at times.
The way he is studies you, like the scripture says in 1 Peter 5:8-10, is like a roaring lion.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
By definition a predator is:
an organism that primarily obtains food by the killing and consuming of other organisms
an animal that preys on other animals
one who injures or exploits others for personal gain or profit
You’re the prey and he is the predator. That’s what they do by nature.
How many things in our country, our state, our world or even in our personal lives have emerged because we didn’t guard ourselves? We let our comfort take over to allow a lazy mindset instead of being mindful or watchful of what is going on around us.
The “attacks” if you will, are meant to discourage and fatigue us into giving up. In the same regard this runs parallel to what is going on in our country and globally. How many things are happening at an accelerated rate worldwide? It’s not time to cower or hide. Don’t let the enemy of your soul study your consistent patterns to scare you into anxiousness, fear or hiding from the boldness you were meant to possess.
You may look at the events of our society and think, “Lord, you have put me in the wrong time. This too hard and I worry for my family.”
Wrong. Because of the Lord’s omnipotence, He already knew what was coming in 2024, in your life, in your family, and in this season. Just like He did for Esther, He knows the plans for you too. He put you in 2024 because He is going to need God fearing bold prayer warriors that were not going to give up.
After everything I’ve been through, I was venting and talking to my best friend recently about some things. She’s seen my story since we were kids and my adult life. She gave me some encouraging affirmations, “I can’t believe you have been this strong. I know you feel like you aren’t and you are screwing up and you can’t be strong enough…but you are. You are doing it.” I love her. My soul needed that little zest in the pants to pick my chin up.
Instead of allowing the fall of our society or things in your life being used as a discouragement, let it activate the warrior side of you that the Lord has given you the fire for. The world needs Jesus more than ever with the impeding election, Texas border crisis, failing economy and wars of many.
Whatever it is….you’ve got this because He already does.
