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Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 

Scripture is clear that a real enemy opposes God and his good work. This enemy seeks to inflict real damage on humanity. Peter describes the devil as a lion looking to devour his prey. The devil’s primary goal is to destroy. Elsewhere, Jesus described the enemy’s work as one who seeks “only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). The enemy’s primary tactic is lies. He is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). This was true of the devil in the very beginning (see Genesis 3:1-7) and is still true of him today.

The devil has been lying for all of history, and he lies to us today. Some of those lies are subtler than others, but every lie is dangerous. We may be tempted by lies such as, “No one will know,” “I am unlovable,” or even “Everyone does it.” The whispers of the enemy are deadly to our souls. Through his lies, he seeks to inject poison into our minds and hearts. We can primarily contend with such lies with the truth of God’s Word.

TODAY: Spiritual warfare reminds us of our need to engage with the Bible well. Consider what it looks like to be more intentional with your Bible intake. There are many ways to engage with the Bible, such as listening to Scripture, following a reading plan, praying Scripture, memorizing verses or discussing the Bible with Christian friends. Identify a way to (re)engage with the Bible and ask God for help to put his Word into practice.