Do you remember watching movies about wartime? You see soldiers sitting around, playing cards, drinking, laughing, and having fun. They've taken a break from fighting and they are "chillin". Then, suddenly an enemy grenade is launched, or some other type of explosion occurs in their midst and they all run to get dressed and search for their weapons. They rush to counter-attack, only to discover that they are too late. The soldiers had weapons, but the problem with not being armed and prepared is that once you are attacked and an explosion happens, damage is done.
Your enemy, the devil, likes to attack when your guard is down. Often, when your life is out of balance, you will let your guard down. Many Christians with lives that are out of balance are spending most of their time "having fun" and not enough time strengthening their spirit. Consequently, when the enemy attacks (creating explosions in their lives) they run for their shield of faith, but by then damage is done. There is nothing wrong with having fun, but when we are out of balance-spending more time entertaining ourselves than we are spending with God-we are headed for pain and serious trouble.
I Peter 5:8 tells us to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" This is an admonition to keep our guard up at all costs. If we don't, we are sending an invitation to the devil to do what he wants to in our lives. Please understand; we are not to be in fear of the devil, we are to be watchful of him, because we can attract what we are fearful of. When we are watchful, we are able to use our faith to deflect and destroy whatever the enemy tries to throw at us (1 Peter 5:9, Ephesians 6:16). Therefore, we must be strong in faith at all times. This means we cannot expect yesterday's faith to help us be in a place of strength today.
Faith is now (Hebrews 11:1), but, unfortunately many Christians make the mistake of trying to live off of yesterday's faith and strength. Faith is a constant and must be maintained. Faith keeps your spiritual guard up. If you have not been inputting the word of God consistently you may not have any assurance in your heart (your thoughts) in abundance. Two months from now, you may not be as convinced of something that you believed yesterday. So, when faced with a negative situation, with your guard down, you may believe the situation instead of what God has said. That is where the enemy wants you and that is when he launches his attack.
Being in balance requires that you include God in all of your affairs. You must make time daily to spend with Him; inputting the word (His Word) that will ultimately recharge your thoughts and build your defenses. You will succeed in all of your endeavors and you will also be prepared to thwart any attack of the enemy. You will be able to go into the enemy's camp and do the damage!
Put God first, get full of His word, and expect victory always!
Keep your guard up!
Allen Forbes
