Watch and Pray as the Devil Prowls
1 Peter 5:8-11
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5 gives the “why” for watchfulness. Who wouldn’t want to watch out for the devil, when he is described as prowling and roaring, seeking to devour?? The devil isn’t just real, he is really waiting for the moment when he can devour someone. “Daniel’s adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour Daniel.” That is how it might as well read. I can’t lose my salvation, but I sure can suffer the devouring effects of falling into sin. Also, we know that the devil is waiting for the perfect moment, not just a random prowling. When the devil left Jesus after tempting Him in the wilderness, it was said that the devil would return at an opportune time (Luke 4:13). He’s waiting for me to close my eyes for a brief moment! Therefore, Peter says to be watchful.
But how? How do I be watchful? Sure, I can attempt to keep my eyes open 24/7, but what happens when I tire, and my personal strength fails?
Matthew 26:39-41
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I find it interesting that being prayerful is connected with being watchful. That is furthered in Ephesians and Colossians:
Ephesians 6:17-20
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:2
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
From these verses, I gather that you have closed your eyes and ceased to resist the devil once you cease to pray. You are inviting temptation to entangle you before you realize what is going on. What are you risking? Sin is destructive. It destroys you and those around you when you fall into sin. Ephesians pointed out that the prayer is for all the saints – we are in this together as a body, and we want none of the soldiers to fall.
Why – we watch because the devil is prowling.
How – by prayer to the One who has the strength we lack.
Lastly, what do I pray? Matthew 6:13 sums that up, and that can be expounded upon at a later time.
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Related posts:
- A Christian Blogger’s Desire [How to Pray for Me]
- Weekend Resource: Prayer- laying hold of God by His promises
- A Step Toward Unceasing Prayer: Responding to the Holy Spirit
Daniel, feel free to take my post. I don’t care, in fact I am happy.
Thank you Ben, may the Lord continue to use you.