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

Are you on watch?

As a Christian, what is your first thought when you hear about a problem in someone’s life, whether they are at home, work or church? Do you conclude it is the work of the devil? When you are going through, do you examine your life trying to see what the devil is trying to kill, steal, or destroy? In spiritual warfare, or any warfare for that matter, your effectiveness begins with you.

Luke 14:28 So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it? (The Passion Translation TPT)

Through your times of study and prayer, and definitely since the start of this devotional, your understanding of how the enemy works has been enlightened. Make sure you understand how he works in your life. Even though you are saved, the devil can still influence you. Do you say, “The devil is not in control of my life. Salvation made Jesus my savior and my Lord”. If you are saved, you would be right. However, salvation does not stop the devil from talking to you. Ask Eve.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (New King James Version NKJV)

Eve did not know. That’s why the devil deceived her. He is tricky. Do you hear the devil asking you questions? Did God really say….? Is it really wrong to ……? Maybe it is not the devil. Maybe you are asking yourself questions because you don’t know. To watch affectively, you have to know what the word of God. Study these other requirements, found in the Bible, as you watch.

1. Always be fully armed (Ephesians 6:11).
2. Know your weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
3. To take authority (Luke 10:19).
4. Be alert and observe everything that is going on around you (1 Peter 5:8).
5. Pray (1 Timothy 2:1).
6. Don’t abandon your responsibilities (Galatians 6:9).
7. Receive and obey the instructions of the Lord (Acts 5:29).
8. Do not get distracted (Joshua 1:7).
9. Seek the Lord when you don’t know what to do (Luke 11:9).
10. Be strong during times of testing (James 1:2-4).
11. Be thankful (Ephesians 5:20).

You cannot afford to give the devil an inch because you are not watching for him, not watching effectively, or you underestimated how cunning he is.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for keeping me. Thank You for reminding me I should always be on watch. Thank You for helping me recognize when and where the enemy is at work in my life. You showed me it is not always an attack against me. Sometimes he tricks me into negatively affecting someone else’s life. I am so sorry. Thank You for teaching me what my responsibilities are. I have to keep in mind the devil is cunning. He comes as an angel of light, yet really, he is the prince of darkness and the father of lies. I continue to repent for every time I miss it; every time I say something, I think is right or do something for the right reason and it turns out to be wrong. Thank you for showing me when someone got hurt, or I caused a problem. That is never my desire. I am grateful You forgive me and You see my heart. Help me be more aware of what is going on, in the spiritual realm. Show me how the enemy is using demonic tactics to affect my natural life. Draw me closer and shine a light on me as You continue to teach me to watch. I depend on You and You alone…

——–

Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.