“Give ALL your worries and cares to God, for He 1CARES ABOUT YOU. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion LOOKING for someone to devour. 2RESIST him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:7-9) 1melōa: an interest or concern of wellbeing. 2anthistēmi: to set one’s self against.
So, what do we do? “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for the Lord GUARDS the lives of His faithful ones and DELIVERS THEM from the hand of the wicked.” (Psa. 97:10)
If we are OBEDIENT to the Lord, which means we are PRAYING TO and TRUSTING IN the Lord. We must also make sure we have asked the Lord to FORGIVE us of our sins and INVITE Him to come into our lives. Why is this so important? “…the Lord is faithful, and HE WILL strengthen you and PROTECT YOU from the evil one.” (2 Thess. 3:3) Once we have established a relationship with Jesus even though we, “…walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will FEAR NO EVIL; For You are (always) WITH ME; Your rod and Your staff, they COMFORT me.” (Psa. 23:4)
-Bill Stockham