The Devil: A Roaring Lion!

Lately, I have really been shown how deceitful and evil the devil is. He knows just what to tempt us with, he knows our weakest points, and he longs to see us fall. Recently I have noticed, that often the devil will attack hardest, those who have just been victorious. Do you ever gain a victory, and after the awe at how God worked to help you gain that victory fades, you find yourself struggling almost harder then before the victory? I read in Messages to Young People, the chapter called fortitude, and I encourage each of you to read it as well. It starts out, "Those who are finally victorious will have seasons of terrible perplexity and trial in their religious life; but they must not cast away their confidence." Just a bit later, "It is his (the devils) delight to cause the children of God to go shrinkingly, tremblingly, and painfully along, under continual doubt. He seeks to make the pathway as sorrowful as possible; but if you keep looking up, not down at your difficulties, you will not faint in the way, you will soon see Jesus reaching His hand to help you, and you will only have to give Him your hand in simple confidence, and let Him lead you. As you become trustful, you will become hopeful." The devil wants us to be filled with doubt and sorrow. He wants us to be terribly perplexed, confused. But we must keep our minds clear and focused, and most importantly, full of trust and confidence in God. When we don't understand everything that is happening to us, this is when we must have full trust that God does know. So often, I find myself thinking, "Ok...then I will just sit here and trust God, and let Him do all the work." That is true to a sense, but listen to what Messages to Young People says a bit later, "If we are self-indulgent, and too lazy to put forth earnest effort to cooperate with the wonderful work of God, we shall meet with loss in this life, and loss in the future, immortal life." We must do everything in our power (which isn't very much compared with God's power) to search the scriptures, keep our minds in continual prayer for help. These things are easier said then done, and the devil knows that. After a victory, it is easy to feel that we are ok now! It's ok to let down our guard. No! Never let down your guard, that is what the devil is waiting for! This is why after victories, we often find ourselves failing worse then before. Then we find ourselves doubting God. Doubting if He is really there. We get confused in trying to solve the problems in our own strength....and that is when the devil steps in. So, my friend, I encourage you to read the chapter called fortitude. Do everything in your power to keep your mind on God, and in prayer, search the scriptures, and when you don't understand something? Be filled with a trust that God does. This will leave no room for the temptations of the devil.