“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

Sometimes evil is blatant, shocking, and sickening. We have seen this in our world through violent racism, sexual abuse, and the horrors of school shootings. When these things happen, it is as if we can see Satan himself standing there clearly revealing his darkness and his hatred of all things good. This show of pure evil can make us afraid, make us weep, and make us angry. The enemy seems to be winning and we must stop this!

But very seldom do these horrific acts begin as blatant evil. Satan has first prowled around in the secret places of these people’s lives. He has worked diligently behind the scenes in order to make these individuals the instruments of his destructive plan. This is why we are told in 1 Peter to always be alert. The horrors we see in our world are not the beginning of the Devil’s work, they are the fruit of his silent warfare against all that is good and godly. There are things around us that we often see as “small” evils. But with Satan there are no small evils. Any evil is a direct affront to God and part of the enemy’s horrific plan. So, pray and ask yourself today; “what are the hidden evils around me, or maybe even in my own heart, that need to be cut off immediately before they become the blatant evils of tomorrow?”

Almighty God, please protect us from the schemes of the enemy. Open our eyes to the evil around us and empower us to fight it each and every day. Equip us with Your full armor so that we can stand and face the enemy, extinguishing every flaming arrow of evil that he hurls at us.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon