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

The world grows weaker and. wiser my friends…the word of the Lord has clearly warned us about the very times that we are  living  in. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be loversof their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.” 2 Timothy 3:1-3.

Perilous means to suffer condiitons that may  lead to imminent danger, risk, destruction or ruin; these conditions are evident in all that we see going on in our world today; and if your not aware of the obvious signs and actions then your are spiritually asleep! It is time to wake-up people… the Apostle Peter in chapter 5:8 admonishes us to  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8.

Sobriety in this context is not the absence of strong drink…but the is directly connected to spiritual warfare, it is  the need to maintain a clear and focused mental-mindset to resist the devil’s schemes. The word of the Lord provides all that we need to walk this life in victory… victory doesn’t donate ease-but to overcome and win the fight empowered by the Holy Ghost! Even the Apostle Paul exhorts all born-again believers to remain awake and sober, he contrasts being spiritual alert to spiritual lethargy or a laxidasiical attitude…he use the analogy of our spiritual armor to emphasize the need for readiness and protection against spiritual dangers. 

We must Trust in the reliability, truth, ability, and  strength of God. We naturally believe that which we can see, but our faith far supersedes the belief in the tangible, it is  rooted and grounded in the infallible word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.

It is only by faith that the child of God successfully travels through this life; and it is predicated on our faith in response to what God has said. “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2 Corinthians 5:7. Know and hold close to the truth that God is sovereign and orchestrates the events of this world…so then, we can cast all our cares on Him! Yes…He holds this world in the palm of His Almighty hands! “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3.

The ups and downs of life may weight us down at some time or the other; but regardless to the challenges that we must face, God is faithful and true. Someone once said that the value of a promise is as good as the promiser… “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20.

The response amen– means truth-or what is has been said is true…God cannot lie, and He never fails, every word of God is true. Isaiah 55: 11 comforts our souls with these words “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

So stay sober vigialnt and stand still -standing  on Christ the solid rock, even though our knees may be bent, and  hearts heavy…uncertainty may loom ahead, but on Him we stand the tallest; so, let us resolve to cling to  the promises of God…and with every single promise comes His great joy…now joy is not an euphoric feeling of laughter and glee; but the stillness of the soul that brings peace and comfort; and the assurance that with God, all is well! “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1. 

Yes, you can trust and believe that we are kept safe and secure in the hands of our Heavenly Father “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:29. and absolutely nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God!

 So, today and every tomorrow to come, hold to God’s unchanging hands!

Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth un moved can stand 
Build your hopes on things eternal
And then hold to God’s unchanging hand! 

God blessings of peace, grace and unconditional love be with us now and forever!