Church & StudentsSample

In this passage, Peter vividly warns us about the reality of spiritual warfare. The imagery of a roaring lion serves as a stark reminder of the enemy's relentless pursuit. Just as a lion stalks its prey, the devil seeks to exploit our weaknesses and lead us away from God's truth. Now this isn’t supposed to cause fear in us, but just increase our awareness of the state of play.

What does it mean to be alert? What will it take? Practically that could look like being aware of our spiritual surroundings and discerning the subtle ways that the enemy can creep into our lives. This call to vigilance isn’t just a personal responsibility; it's a communal one. It’s helpful to remember that this isn’t just something that is happening to us personally, it’s the reality for the Body of Christ - His Church. As believers, we are part of a larger family facing similar struggles. Knowing this can empower us, reminding us that we are not alone in our battles.

So how do we resist and stand firm? James 4:7 says “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you”. I love this reminder, that our submission to God is how we resist the devil. This means grounding ourselves in God’s Word, increasing our prayer rhythm, and being in fellowship with other believers. When we strengthen our relationship with God and lean on our community, we fortify ourselves against the enemy's attacks.

This is particularly important when we remember students who are in our churches and cities, the attack on this generation is huge and is happening in lots of different ways, but we as the Church and disciples of Jesus can become the source of strength for them, by intentionally building community and interceding for them.

Question: Are there areas in your life where you need to be more alert? What steps can you take to stand firm in your faith?

Prayer: Lord, help me to remain alert and aware of the enemy’s schemes. Strengthen my faith and remind me of the support I have through those in my community. Thank you for the power that you give, that helps us overcome. Amen.