This post is written to link with Five Minute Friday: write for five minutes on a one-word prompt. The prompt today is “stay.”
Over the past few weeks, there has been much discussion, debate, and even division, between the different parts of the UK over the timescale and detail of the gradual easing of the lockdown.
How many people can meet outside?
Which businesses can begin to reopen when?
And, should the key message to the population be “Stay home,” or “Stay alert”?
Don’t worry, this blog is not going to get political! I include that only to explain why these phrases were the first to come to mind on reading the FMF prompt.
The next thing to come to mind was this verse:
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT)
Though the description of a great enemy, prowling around looking for someone to devour, is remarkably similar to the image that has often been portrayed of COVID-19, this is a reminder that we have a far greater enemy.
And, in the case of this enemy, the call is definitely not one to stay at home. We are not called to live in fear or to allow the threat to hold us back from doing what God is calling us to do.
But we are called to stay alert – to remember that there is an enemy, and the threat is real.
We’re called to stand firm and stay faithful.
That isn’t always easy. I’ve witnessed the enemy prowling this week, and I’m grateful for the friend who had greater discernment than I did over what was going on.
I’m glad that she was alert to see that what in some ways would have been the safer option wasn’t the right option, and for her encouragement to stay faithful, even though it may have its cost down the line.
These verses encourage me to have faith. No matter how great the enemy, we have a God who is much greater, and if we stay alert and stay united, we can help one another to stay faithful, trusting that, in the end, God’s purposes will prevail!
I agree, Lesley. We have to always stay alert to the enemy. He is so devious and, if we’re not alert, he can overcome us unaware.
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Thanks! Yes, we definitely need to be on our guard, and to look out for one another.
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Stay alert, our enemy is unseen, but just as real!
Put your armour on girl! Xx
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Yes, that’s so important! xx
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Amen our God is greater. 😊 great message stay alert. – a fellow fmfer #4
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Thanks, Loretta!
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COVID-19 was the fear,
and there were lockdowns everywhere;
but now there seems a cause more dear,
and no-one really seems to care
about the social-distance rules
that flattened down the curve.
For me, well, I think they’re fools,
and that we may soon oberve
the fruits of their indiscipline,
of leaders rendered impotent;
we’ll see the scourge come back again
and relive the same events
that brought us down this fell dark way,
the grinning devil’s Groundhog Day.
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Yes, it concerns me too. While I agree we should be standing up against racial injustice, we need to find a way to do it that doesn’t put people in danger. The threat of the virus is still very real.
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Needed these encouraging words! The enemy has been working on me and I am thankful to be reminded that God is greater! As usual your wisdom comes at just the right time!
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Thanks, Cindy! I’m so glad it encouraged you!
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Great verse to focus on. If we stay alert and stay focused on God, I believe we will have the wisdom we need to face these challenges. Our enemy is not people, not a virus, not our governments. We have only one true enemy. Let us never lose sight of that.
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Thanks, Amie! Yes, remembering who the enemy really is makes all the difference!
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Lesley, what a blessing to have friends and loved ones who can discern and point out things we might not be able to see. And what a comfort to know that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Hugs, friend.
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Yes Lesley! The enemy can appear as an angel of light or that appealing choice for us etc…we need to be alert & have the Holy Spirit’s discernment in all circumstances!
Great reminder, thank you!
Bless you,
Jennifer
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“Do not be afraid.”
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Stay alert is always good advice, anytime, anywhere. And that definitely includes the last few months! 🙂
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This is a very cogent and timely essay. Thank you for making the effort to write and present it, in these troubling times.
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Good advice. The enemy is always looking for buttons to push and ways to deceive us.
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Thanks, Sandra!
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