Like a Lion

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

Do you know how lions hunt? They stalk and wait. They are very patient, and smart creatures. A lot of their prey are quick on their feet. Plus, they stay in groups.

A lion does not want too much hassle in getting their lunch. So, attacking a group of prey isn’t the smartest strategy. The lion could be overpowered. Or, the prey has better chances of escaping. Because once one of them becomes aware of the lion, they all become aware.

No, a lion waits. They are quiet. They stalk. There is going to be a straggler. One who, because they are hurt or whatever, is slower than the hurd and becomes distant with them. That’s when the lion jumps into action.

Typically a lion will first swipe at the prey’s legs, tripping them. Then the lion will go either for the neck or the head for a quick kill. Their jaws are quite powerful, not gonna lie. It’s kind of terrifying actually.

Anyway, The reason I wanted to share this about lions with you is because sometimes we forget how the enemy can work.

You see, we read 1 Peter 5:8, about how the devil prowls around like a lion, and think of the ferocity of lions. At least, that’s what I first think of. I think about the power, strength, largeness and teeth. I think that I’d be overpowered if a lion comes at me head on. But lions don’t do that.

The enemy does not attack head on. He is sneaky, cunning, and waits. He waits for your vulnerable moments. When you are struggling, straggling behind. Once you begin to do so, he will swipe at your feet, tripping you, and then devour you.

I guess I’m telling you all this because I want you to be watchful. The enemy can sneak his way into your life. Stay diligent. Never stop reading God’s Word. Never slow down in your prayers. Never distance yourself from your brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you are going through something right now, if you are struggling, please don’t isolate in any way shape or form. From God, family, or fellow believers. Talk to someone. Force yourself to do the things that you are pushing off, like praying, reading your Bible, going to church, ect…

Because let me tell you, isolation causes for some serious fights with the enemy. At one point in my life, I was experiencing suicidal ideation and even tried it one time in the bathroom. At the last minute I stopped. I remember thinking that death wasn’t really what I wanted, was it? I remember wondering if God would still want or accept me if I did this? I ended up crying and praying in the bathroom that day.

I just didn’t know how to stop it all. I wanted peace, quiet. I wanted the thoughts in my head to just end. The enemy had his jaws around my head, ready to crush it. But my Shepherd came running, swinging his staff, scaring the predator away.

If you don’t have someone to talk to. If you don’t know who to turn to. I will lend you an ear. I care. I will listen. Because:

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17