A Gazelle That Abides

So I was a part of an awesome conversation last night that I figured I’d share with you something God reminded me of. Have you ever found yourself falling into some of your old ways and thinking to yourself, “Why is this happening?” Well I had friend who was going through that recently and God used a verse from 1 Peter to remind both her and me of something. 

“8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 PETER 5:8

See here’s the scoop. We tend to forget a few things. One of the things that we forget is that we have to live with our fleshly desires. Having said this, we are not called to let this be an excuse to walk in it. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3 that we are called to die to that and to live in the Spirit. With this in mind, we also tend to forget that the Devil knows what our flesh wants, craves, and desires. He knows how to prod at it in order for us to be tempted even harder than what our own sinful nature already does. He looks to “devour” us, as this verse states.

See this verse tells us to be alert and sober-minded because if the prey of a lion is these things, they would know to stay with the flock and keep in the right area. If we are not alert, we tend to wander in our faith journey. We tend to forget the simple yet important things like prayer, fellowship, and worshiping God. We forget how these things really do satisfy our Spirit. We become like a weak , lonely, gazelle in the Sahara sized life. We must remember what a lion does to us in this position. I once watched a lion stalk its prey on TV. A lion will blend in with its surroundings, out of sight of the gazelle. It’ll slowly creep up on the prey, and in their most vulnerable moment…

The lion will pounce

and devour the prey

Praise the Lord that we are not simply like the gazelle! If you are in this time right now, know that Jesus is there to help you back to the rest of the flock. He’s there to give you more strength. He’s there to bring you back to your brothers and sisters. If this isn’t enough, He’s there to do even more.

“9 Resist him (Satan), standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 PETER 5:9-10

He wants to help you have the endurance to always be where we need to be. He wants us to persevere. See we will always struggle with our wants, desires, and cravings. We can’t run from them and expect them to simply disappear. Satan wants you to think that so he can strike you down. 

Beloved, I ask that you take time to consider where you are. Take time to ask God if you are the wandering gazelle. If you are, take time to resist not just Satan, but yourself in Jesus’ name. If you are one who is learning to persevere, find someone to bring back to the flock. They need it as much as you do!

I love you beloved!