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

DAILY READING: • Acts 8:26-40; Joshua 1-2; Job 21

Recent researches have found that death rates usually spiked during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday.
In 2015, there was a report in the
Washington Post that cited studies that showed there were greater chances of people dying during Christmas or New Year’s Day period than on any other time of the year.
According to the researchers, the last days of each year are often considered the most fatal days of the year. In some nations, the Christmas period in particular often records the highest rate of death.
There seems no clear indication of the reason for this.
However, there are a number of popular theories that try to explain it. A potential reason is that hospitals may be understaffed around the holidays, and their most experienced workers may be taking time off. That could lead to reduced performance and reduced ability to save lives.
Some think excess consumption of alcohol and rich foods could be the culprit. Others speculate it is linked to the winter weather. However, a study in New Zealand showed that even when Christmas and New Year are celebrated in summer, a surge in deaths still occurs. Scientists remain baffled by this phenomenon and continue to seek for answers that could explain it.

Spiritually, we can understand that the spike in deaths during these festivities is the enemy’s attempt to turn the joy of people into sorrow.
For many people, Christmas is simply that time of the year for partying, frolicking, drinking, with no attention paid to spiritual things.
The spiritually careless and ignorant people thus become easy targets for the enemy.
While the Christmas festivities are fun, we should never allow ourselves to lose spiritual focus.
Therefore,while we celebrate, we should always remain spiritually vigilant and prayerful.

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

What it means is that spiritually we do not go on holiday.
While the enemy works to increase the death rate this season, we should be sober, and prayerfully watch our every step.
However, as believers we know that we are exempted from evil by the Blood of Jesus. Psalm 65:11 tells us that God crowns the year for us with His goodness and good things. His blessings make rich and add no sorrow with it. Indeed for us, the end of the year is a better time, because better is the end of the matter than the beginning thereof. Therefore it doesn’t matter the evil plots of the enemy, our case continues to be different. Indeed the rod of the wicked shall never rest upon the lot of the righteous. By covenant we are preserved and protected always from the evil in the world.
By God’s grace and mercies we will never be victims. Through study of the Word, fervent prayers, and passionate worship, we will continue to hide ourselves deeper in God’s Presence, where no evil can touch us.

PRAYER: Lord, please during this festive period, guide me always by Your Spirit, and enable me to escape every trap of the enemy in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
In the middle of the enemy’s worst, God still proves Himself to be merciful. WORDBITE 222

Shalom!

@GOODHEART- EKWUEME .

PLS FEEL FREE TO SHARE IF THIS BLESSES YOU!🔥
(I would love to hear your testimonies via WhatsApp +2348052234444 / Email: apostlegoodheart@gmail.com)