By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
When we look at the behavior of a lion and how it hunts its prey, we gain some insight into the tactics of Satan and his deception.
When a lion hunts, it hides in the tall African grasses and watches its prey from afar. Carefully, it singles out the weak and unsuspecting, scoping out its best opportunity to score an easy meal. Once the lion chooses its victim, it springs forth with great speed, using the element of surprise as its main offense. The herd begins to scatter, but the lion keeps its eyes on the predetermined target. The lion’s first tactic is to separate the victim from the rest of the herd, making it an easier mark. The fierce predator wears down its prey with a terrorizing chase until the victim stumbles, falls, and eventually surrenders to the lion’s ferocious jaws.
Satan is looking for a victim. He watches from afar, waiting to prey upon the weak and unsuspecting. God tells us to be self-controlled and alert. Our enemy often implements the element of surprise when launching his attacks. In this way he catches us off guard. Often we don’t even realize an attack is taking place until it’s too late.
Like a lion separating its victim from the herd, Satan’s most profitable tactic of spiritual warfare is to separate Christians from their support system. Isolation is a powerful tool of the enemy. When he can get us alone, we are extremely vulnerable. He can start whispering his lies, which puts us at an even greater risk of sinking into a pit of despair. His relentless lies wear us down and we grow weary. Fortunately Satan’s attack on the Christian is limited. Although he cannot tear us away from God, he can certainly keep us from being effective for God’s kingdom.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
God is our deliverer and protector, but we must keep on the full armor of God as a means of daily prevention and protection against Satan’s attacks.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11)
Christians are the top target for the enemy of our souls, but we are not helpless victims. We have the power of God on our side!
“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9)
Are you being attacked by the enemy? Cry out to Jesus and He will rescue you!
