“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

The idea of being stalked is something that is often joked about (i.e. I’m totally stalking your Facebook right now), but, in reality, is truly terrifying. The idea that someone is out there lurking…watching…plotting against you…waiting for the right moment to strike unexpectedly…is not one that any of us in our right minds would perceive as pleasant. Yet…

Satan is watching you right now. He’s plotting. He’s waiting for the perfect opportunity to devour your soul.

Happy Halloween, right?

As alarming as this may be to contemplate, it is a necessary contemplation. How can we take steps to be prepared if we are unaware that such a threat exists! As Jesus stated in Luke 12:39, “if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.”

It is very important that we realize the fact that, at any given time, we are all just one choice away from sinning against our Lord (James 1:14-15). We are always one wrong move away from getting snatched by the boogeyman!

We are at each moment…

…one click from casting our eyes upon things which are vile and filthy.

…one turn from driving down a road which will lead us somewhere we know we shouldn’t be.

…one word from causing hurt and pain in the heart of another.

…one laugh from condoning sick thoughts that others have made into a joke.

…one hesitation from failing to show the love of Christ to someone who needed it.

Satan is watching…waiting…lurking…just outside the door.

God, however, does not want us to fear, He wants us to be prepared and to be confident in His power to deliver and protect us! Paul stated in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In Genesis 4:7, God spoke to Cain and posed the question: “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” God wants us to rule over sin by “doing what is accepted.” The key to overcoming evil is by engaging in that which is good! (Romans 12:21)

Despite the lurking enemy, God wants us to realize that…

• When He is for us, no one can stand against us and prevail (Romans 8:31)
• He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6)
• With Him, we can overcome ALL temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13)
• If we submit and draw near to Him, the dark one will flee (James 4:7-8)
• In the end, He wins (Revelation 20:10)

Despite what your parents told you as a child, the boogeyman is real. But, if we are found in the Lord (Galatians 3:26-27) and equipped with His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), then we do not have to be fearful. We can be confident in our King’s ability to deliver us from every temptation.

The only way to dispel the darkness and that which hides therein is to expose it with the Light. Jesus said that He is the light of the world.

‘Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”’ (John 8:12)

Are you walking with Him?

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)