Do Not Become An Easy Prey

Do Not Become An Easy Prey

Sister Miki Terayama - 20 September 2020

Weekend Devotion: Do Not Become An Easy Prey

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Satan is tirelessly seeking out those who are facing problems, struggling with weaknesses and those who are hurt. He is an opportunist that attacks us at our weakness point, when we are helpless to defend ourselves. As what Peter has said in <1 Peter 5:8> “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He will cause us to falter in our faith, falling into deeper sins and pain while we may still be unaware of its foothold on us. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us not become or continue being an easy prey to our spiritual enemy. Now when are we most vulnerable to Satan’s attacks? It is especially when we are indifferent, prideful, guilty, in self pity, feeling like “letting loose” or forget about God, that we are easy targets. However, even though it is still easy for believers to be attacked by Satan from time to time, but God has already prepared the full armour for us to be ready for our spiritual battles, and that includes times when we are still in our trials and failures. God wants us to inject His undefeated truth into our hearts so that we may be able to expose the hidden works and lies of Satan that is working within us. In this way, we will be able to use the power of the gospel to guard our faith. As <1 Peter 1:5> says, “Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
So what is this undefeated truth?

 

All our sufferings will end.
Firstly, God tell us this: That one day, all our sufferings will end. We are but visitors in this world, but what truly awaits us is the eternal kingdom, therefore, we can rejoice today holding this hope before us. However, through the different sufferings in life, like spousal issues, problems with children, work fatigue, stress from servings, unable to love people around us, ailments, single hood or many other internal struggles, the most common response will be to doubt God and go with our own ways. This is because, Satan will influence our hearts by saying things like: “God is not true to what He said. See? Bad things are still happening to you. God must not be favouring you. God is not listening to your prayers, or helping in your pain or circumstances.”Satan wants us to focus on our problems, and we will keep thinking of ways to escape our sufferings, instead of escaping the desires of the flesh that is burdening us.
Thus, at this moment, Peter said in 1 Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Brothers and sisters, the so-called humility is the response of turning to God — admitting to our limitations, casting all our cares to the Lord, and being willing to draw near to His word. From there, God will raise us up from our circumstances. This does not mean that we will not have problems entirely, but our hearts will transcend our issues with the eternal peace and contentment from God. When we approach our present troubles with humility, we are not joyful only after things are resolved, but our joy is stemmed from the presence of our faithful God who will grant us security and comfort. When we are in this same mind and heart with God, we will gradually not become an easy prey to Satan’s ways.


In the midst of battle, God is with us.

Nonetheless, in this journey of battling our own struggles, it can get lonely. But even though we are in battle mode, we are not doing this on our own. This is because God is with us. He cares for us. In 1 Peter 5:7, it says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” And in 1 Peter 5:9, it goes on to say about Satan, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Our warfare in this world is not a one-man show. We have many other children of God who is going through it with us. Even though Satan always gives us insinuations like, “You are problematic. No one is so weak like you. You have issues and no one will be able to understand or empathise in you.” When we get absorbed by these lies, we will feel even more lonely and you cannot have a harmonious relationship with your brethren, because you will have your reservations towards them, thinking they may judge you. This is how Satan works, to put us in a state of hurt, not being able to bless others and receive a life that transcends our circumstances. Therefore, let us not rely too much on our feelings, feeling that we are unable to. We are not alone as God has prepared a support system for us. As we look at the lives of the disciples, we can see how God has already taken care of them, and He hopes that we see the same in our own lives. Our needs may differ from others, but the one thing we truly need when we are a spiritually-wounded believer, our best battle plan is in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When God’s people gather, care for those who are in suffering with the love and mercy of God, holding tightly onto God’s word and promises, God’s abundant strength will surely satisfy and provide for our innermost needs and healing.

 

Not only will God take away our pain, He will heal every wound, restoring the beauty of eternity in us.
Finally, not only will God take away our pain, He will heal every wound, restoring the beauty of eternity in us. What is this beauty of eternity? Peter said in 1 Peter 5:10, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Dear brothers and sisters, sufferings and problems will not be the final note of our lives. No matter how tired, how much strife, trials and weaknesses we are going through, it will never become the concluding statement to our lives. Satan may always deceive us by saying, “Your troubles will never end. You will never be healed. Does God really have a plan for you? It really doesn’t seem so.” Again, these are lies. Only if we continue to humble down, trust and rejoice in God’s sovereignty and plans, even as we are in phase of suffering now, but comparing to our life in eternity, all our present brokenness and shortfalls will receive its meaning and assurance from our faith. Why? Because God has already used His eternal glory to take over our pain in this temporal world. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” So even when we are still in a seemingly bad situation, we can still taste the joy of contentment and blessings of eternity from God.

Brothers and sisters, our troubles may be many in this world, but God reminds us to always be in spiritual battle mode, because Satan is always waiting to devour our faith. Therefore, let us be wary and vigil. Do not rely on baseless emotions, but use the undefeated truth of God to break down the lies of Satan. In this way, we will not become an easy prey in our spirit.

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Miki Terayama
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Miki is a full-time ministry staff at The Blessed Run Ministries. She is a sister who shares a natural, God-given affinity with children and youths. She is married to Randy (NET Group Youth Leader) and has two little ones of her own, Liora and Jude. She is involved in the children, youth and social media ministries.

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