1 Peter 1:8 KJV  ‘Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary goes about as a roaring lion, seeking for whom to devour.’

• DAILY READING – James 4; Jeremiah 27-28; Psalm 132

The Israeli Defense Force [IDF], was founded in 1948. It ranks among the most battle-tested armed forces in the world, having had to defend the country in six major wars. The IDF’s security objectives are to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Israel.

Though it has always been outnumbered by its enemies, the IDF maintains a qualitative advantage by deploying advanced weapons systems, many of which are developed and manufactured in Israel for its specific needs. The IDF’s main resource, however, is the high caliber of its soldiers.  These soldiers are trained to respond rapidly in repelling attacks. Given the country’s lack of territorial depth, the IDF must take the initiative when deemed necessary and, if attacked, quickly transfer the battleground to the enemy’s land, Israel always seems to be in one conflict or the other. And apart from the major wars, Israel also daily has to contend with terrorist attacks from radical Islamic groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Fatah, PLO etc. Being surrounded by so much enmity, Israeli soldiers  have learned to live in a constant state of alertness and readiness.

In the same vein, as Christians, we are required to live battle ready. Ephesians 6 lets us know that we are in a serious spiritual battle. We are not wrestling with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. In this ongoing spiritual battle, you will survive based on the level of your spiritual readiness. Jesus severally admonished believers to watch and pray and to live ready.

1 Peter 1: 8 admonishes us to be sober and vigilant, because the enemy is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. As a result of this spiritual battle, there is need for us to store up spiritual strength in readiness. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:10 that if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Because life’s battle can come suddenly, we are to live always prepared for war. We prepare by maintaining a fervent spiritual life, diligently studying the Bible and keeping the fire always burning on our prayer altars.

The battles of life are represented by the challenges that often come our ways.

The road of life is fraught with these challenges. What will determine our victory is how we react to them. Someone said life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react. We must be equipped through the Word to react in faith. Faith is the victory that will overcome. What you put into your mind is what you get out. When pressure is applied, your internal essence is what will come out. When you squeeze orange you get orange juice and when you squeeze grape, you get grape juice. When challenged what you have put into your mind is essentially what flows out. This is why you must be committed to putting the Word of God into your mind daily, so that when squeezed only the Word of God will come out. And the Word is the answer to every challenge or problem of life. It delivers to us the faith to triumph always

PRAYER: Lord, help me to always live alert and ready. Grant me the grace to study Your Word like never before and to be rightly positioned to be a part of the mighty army You are raising in this end-time. May I never miss my place nor break ranks in Jesus Name.

QUOTE:

As a child of God, you have to recognize that you are in the middle of an ongoing battle.