A security guard can have every weapon and every tool and still be ineffective if he is either unalert or inexperienced at spotting intruders.

Imagine one, fully armed and well equipped, yet dozing at his post and unable to tell friend from foe. People move through the gates, seemingly harmless. When an intruder finally shows up, he won’t even recognise the threat.

Yet this is how some believers live, complacent and oblivious to the tactics of the enemy. They move unaware of his subtle schemes, which seek to make them dim their light in this dark world, with the ultimate aim of pulling them away from their source of light.

I Peter 5:8
New King James Version
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Peter warns us to stay alert, focused, and vigilant because we have an adversary. From the moment we believed the gospel and became saved, we became targets of this adversary. The enemy launches strategic attacks designed to weaken one’s faith, create doubt, and ultimately pull us away from God.

At times, it may appear that he is attacking one’s health, finances, or career, but these are only means to an end. His ultimate target is one’s faith in God.
Therefore, we must remain alert and ready to resist the enemy whenever he shows up.

Another reason we must remain alert is that this adversary often operates in disguise. Unlike the obvious villain portrayed in movies, dressed in dark colours and easy to identify, he works deceptively.

One of his tactics is masquerading as an angel of light to deceive. In Revelation 12:9, he is described as a deceiver of the whole world. This is why we must be vigilant and spiritually discerning.

He introduces subtle compromises that often sound reasonable and harmless. Thoughts like, “This isn’t that bad,” or “Almost everyone is doing it” are designed to make us tolerate darkness in areas where we ought to shine God’s light.

He also attempts to remind believers of sins that God has already forgiven, replaying past failures to evoke feelings of guilt, shame, and condemnation. He aims to make us feel unworthy of God’s love and hesitant to approach Him in prayer, even though prayer is exactly where we ought to run when we sin.
He further questions what God has said, whispering lies to cause doubt about the truth of who we are in Christ.

While it is important to understand how the devil operates, emphasis must be placed on the truth of who you are and where you stand in this spiritual warfare. And the good news is this: as believers, we fight from a vantage point of victory!

I Corinthians 15:57
New King James Version
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!
This assurance in the word changes everything. The devil may roar, but he is only a defeated foe. Our response to him is to stand firm in this victory Christ has won for us.

I Peter 5:9
New King James Version
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

After Peter warns against our adversary, the devil, he tells us what to do – resist him. We resist the devil by standing firm, remaining steadfast in the faith, trusting in God, and refusing to compromise. When we do so, the enemy is forced to flee.

Being confident in the victory we have in Christ does not mean we live carelessly. We must guard our hearts with diligence to stand firm in the faith.

God has supplied us with everything we need to stand firm. We must deliberately clothe ourselves with the whole armor of God every day.
We must spend time in the word of God, staying grounded in its truth, arming ourselves with it, and building up our faith. We must also make prayer a lifestyle because therein lies our sustenance.

Ephesians 6:13
New King James Version
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The enemy may roam and roar, but he has already been defeated. Stand firm, remain vigilant, discern his lies, and guard your heart with all diligence. Do not dim your light; shine brighter than ever before. Resist the devil with confidence, and rejoice in the victory that has already been won through Jesus Christ.

Prayer Point
Father, thank You for the victory I have in You. I walk confidently in this victory every day of my life. Help me to stay discerning of the wiles of the devil, so that I can resist him and stand steadfastly in my faith. Help me to stay committed to Your word and prayer that my heart stays guarded at all times.