One of the first Bible verses I learned after becoming a Christian at sixty-five was 1 Peter 5:8: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Back then, I didn’t fully get what it meant. Just memorizing Bible verses was hard enough as a new Christian. Do most new Christians think memorizing verses brings them closer to Jesus? I don’t know. Maybe.
Now, nearly twenty years later, with all the changes and distractions in life, this verse means a lot more to me. Thinking about my own struggles and health issues has made me want to dig deeper into what this verse really means for me.
“As someone who believes in what Jesus did for me on the cross, I really want to stay on track with my faith. But with all the distractions and sneaky moral challenges out there, it’s tough.”
What Is Peter Saying?
He was strongly encouraging the Christians in Asia Minor; telling them to stay clear-headed and not give in to the stuff that clouds their minds. I think he’s also telling us to approach life with sound judgement and in the right frame of mind. We are to be alert, watchful, and aware of the subtle, but powerful, ways our adversary tries to get us.
And how about the lion Peter talks about? It’s clear to me that the lion is not after our flesh—it already has that. It’s our spirit that’s in danger. That’s the real struggle. We face attacks every day, so what can we do to resist? Peter tells us to be mindful of how we’re living. When he says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert,” he’s not messing around. We need to learn to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh.
Galatians nails this struggle in Chapter 5, verse 17: “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
Even though I get what this passage is saying, it’s a daily reminder of the battle I’m in. When I try to focus on God and Jesus, my thoughts and desires often get in the way. I can’t always keep my mind clear or make the right choices. Sometimes, I let myself get swept up by sinful thoughts and behaviors—whether it’s lust, anger, greed, jealousy, or envy. Even following the latest trends or ideologies can pull me away from what’s true. All of this stuff just leads me further from being who Jesus wants me to be. Will I ever truly learn to walk in the spirit and become who God created me to be? I don’t know. Maybe.
Resisting the Claws
If we could keep our focus on Jesus and the Cross all the time, we’d definitely be closer to walking in the spirit instead of giving in to the pressures of the world around us. With all the noise from social media, consumerism, wars, deceit, greed, power, and money, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters. We often struggle to stay “sober-minded” and “alert” to these things and can fall into the traps set by the evil one. But we’ve got to stay vigilant and keep Peter’s warning in mind if we want to live a life centered on Christ.
What Can One Do?
1. Start Your Day With God
- Start the Day with Prayer: Doing this every morning helps me to ground myself in God’s truth. This helps to shape my thoughts and attitudes, aligning them with God’s will.
- Consistent Prayer: I try to pray regularly throughout the day, asking God to help me resist temptations and to maintain spiritual clarity.
- Scripture: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” — Psalm 1:2
- Scripture: “Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17
2. Find Your Faith Team
- Join a Small Group: Participate in a Bible study or small group where you can discuss challenges and victories with other believers. This provides encouragement, support, and accountability.
- Accountability Partners: Have a trusted friend or mentor you can regularly check in with about your spiritual life, temptations, and areas where you need prayer or advice. I’ve got a group of guys I’ve been meeting with weekly for the past ten years. They help me deal with life’s challenges by giving solid advice, praying for me, and loving and accepting me as a child of God. Honestly, without them, I’d be lost.
- Scripture: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” — James 5:16
- Scripture: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17
3. Lend A Hand
- Serve Others: Engage in acts of service within your church or community. Serving others keeps you grounded, combats selfishness, and aligns you with Christ’s example of humility and love.
- Use Your Gifts: We all have something to offer. Figure out what your God-given talents and gifts are, and use them in ways that honor God and help others. For example, I’m part of our church’s security and safety team. It gives me a sense of purpose, knowing I’m helping keep the congregation safe.
- Scripture: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45
- Scripture: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10
4. Make Worship A Habit
- Corporate Worship: Find a church community that you like. Worshiping with other believers is a shared experience that really strengthens your faith and keeps you committed to following Jesus.
- Personal Worship: Work worship into your daily routine, whether it’s through prayer or reading, to keep your heart connected to God. Some of the best prayers and worship songs are on YouTube. Every day, I start my morning by watching a Grace Oasis prayer on YouTube. It’s super encouraging and a great way to kick off the day.
- Scripture: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” — Hebrews 10:24-25
- Scripture: “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” — Psalm 96:9
5. Keep Your Mind In Check
- Practice Discernment: Be selective about what you watch, read, and listen to. Always take a good look at the ideas and beliefs you come across, whether it’s from media, education, or conversations. If any of them go against the teachings of the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to spot them. Then, reject anything that doesn’t line up with God’s Word.
- Renewing Your Mind: Connect with scripture that helps you focus on “renewing your mind,” like it says in Romans 12:2. I try to meditate on certain verses that help me push away negative thoughts and replace them with God’s promises.
- Scripture: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2
- Scripture: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5
6. Stay Humble, Stay Grateful
- Confess: Be quick to confess sins and seek God’s forgiveness. This keeps pride at bay and fosters a humble reliance on God’s grace.
- Practice Gratitude: Cultivate a spirit of gratitude by regularly thanking God for His blessings. I often write a gratitude list of all the blessings I’ve received from God. This shifts the focus away from what the world and the evil one offers us.
- Scripture: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9
- Scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Such great reminders to help us in our everyday!!!
Thank you for such great insight
Rachel, thank you for your response. Im so appreciative of your kind words. Be blessed.
Denny
You are a wise man Oz! Your reflections and teachings are spot on! I am so blessed to have you in my life.
Bless you Pete. Sure do miss your wise counsel. What a fine mentor you were to me. I finally got back to blogging after a two year hiatus. Hope you and yours are well.
That was amazing, timing is everything. I visualized the lions tail tripping me up and the claws grabbing my shoe to cause me to stumble. But, God helps us avoid these snares or helps us to get back on track….
Thanks Denny
Thanks for your kind words, Deb.
love this!
Thanks for your response, Angie.