The Be-Attitudes of the Christian Walk ~ Be Vigilant

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8

It was my first backpacking trip. The fresh air, the stillness of nature, and the sheer beauty of Yosemite were healing to my soul. The panoramic views were breathtaking, but so were the altitude gains and using muscles I didn’t know existed in my body. We settled into a routine; find a camping spot, set up our sleeping area (no tents, just sleeping bags), start a campfire, and make dinner.

After a dinner of reconstituted beans, pasta, dried meats and vegetables, we’d sit around the campfire and visit until, one by one, we couldn’t stay upright. The ground pad and my down sleeping bag felt glorious. Sleeping under the canopy of God’s nightlights lulled me into a most peaceful slumber.

Except this night…

While telling silly stories around the campfire, I got a niggling feeling – like I was being watched. I turned on my flashlight and did a sweep behind me. My first thought was “Oh, a bear.” I could have petted it on the nose (definitely not recommended). I was busy observing this beautiful creature without a thought in the world for what she would do if I indeed petted her on the nose.

But our resident bear expert jumped up, waving his arms and shouting. “Bear! Bear! Get out of here!” We all threw up our arms and joined in the wild dance. The bear looked at us like we were crazy, gave a shake of her head, and snorted before ambling away.

We settled back in, a little closer to the fire – and each other. The stories resumed, albeit with more intensity. Then, that creepy feeling crept up back up my neck., Out came the flashlight again.

This time, mama bear brought her cubs. She was teaching them how to pilfer food from unsuspecting campers. Fortunately, our food was hanging in a tree, safely out of reach. So, Mama and babies moved on to the next group of hikers, who reported they lost half of their supplies during the night.

Reflection: Vigilance in the Christian Walk

That night in Yosemite reminded me of how the enemy operates. The devil, like a roaring lion, seeks to devour us. He wants to scare us, rob us of our precious resources, and teach his disciples how to do the same. We can never let down our guard. We must always be vigilant, guarding our hearts and minds, lest the predator make us his prey.

As soon as we let down our guard, the predator sweeps in. He sneaks around and makes himself look all soft and fuzzy, disguising himself as harmless, even desirable.

Scripture reminds us that God Himself is a shield around us, but He urges us to not put ourselves in situations where the safety of our hearts and minds is compromised.

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23

“So, prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation…” I Peter 1:13a

We need to be vigilant in our faith so when the enemy approaches us, disguised as a cuddly teddy bear, we can stand strong and fight with the Lord of Heavens’ Armies by our side.

When to Stand and When to Run

The enemy wants us to believe that we are alone, but God is always with us, and He doesn’t expect us to fight our battles on our own. Sometimes, the best defense is retreat. While we must be vigilant, there are times when we must turn and run.

The enemy wants us to believe that we are alone, but God is always with us, and He doesn’t expect us to fight the battles on our own. Sometime the best defense is retreat. While we must be vigilant, there are times when we must turn and run.

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Other times we need to stand firm in our strength and resist the temptation right where we are. We must make the enemy flee from us.

“So, humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Vigilance Beyond the Mountain

It’s easy to let our guard down after a time of rest. We can begin to grumble and sit idly, as if we’re entitled to a break after exerting so much energy. But it’s not when we’re on high alert that the enemy strikes. He waits for us to come down from the mountain, rested and content. That’s when he sneaks in, prowling like a predator, seeking to isolate us and make us an easy target.

Backpacking in Yosemite is truly a mountain top experience. However, when we return to the valley, we face the challenges we left behind. While I love my backyard, the views aren’t nearly as spectacular.

It’s easy to let down our guard after a time of rest. We begin to grumble, sit around and watch TV, after all, we just burned a gazillion calories! But it’s not when we are on high alert that the enemy strikes. He waits for us to come down from the mountain, rested and content. That’s when he sneaks in, prowling like a predator, seeking to isolate us and make us an easy target.

Be Vigilant

So be vigilant. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Let Him be your fortress and protector. Put on the whole armor of God, so when the enemy comes, you are not caught off guard. With the Lord’s strength, you’ll be able to stand firm against the wiles of the devil.

Questions to ponder

Have you ever been caught off guard and struggled to resist the devil?

Have you tried quoting Scripture in the face of temptation?

Do you ‘pray without ceasing,’ to keep the lines of communication open with God, making it easier to stay vigilant against the enemy?

What are areas in your walk that need vigilance?

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Please help me to always be on guard against the schemes of the devil. I pray that Your Word would be a lamp unto my feet and keep me from harm. Please guard my heart and be a shield about me and help me to be still and let you fight the battles for me.

In Your Precious Name, Amen

Meditate on the words of this song and be encouraged in your walk of vigilance. Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham