"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:6-11)

(I heard a devotional on Tuesday led by Pastor Allan Eckert of Trinity Lutheran San Angelo. Having missed our church service on Sunday, I missed our pastor, Pastor Eric Hiner, speak to this passage in his series based on 1 Peter. Some of what you read today is based on Pastor Eckert's devotion.)

We know that Satan is defeated due to Christ's suffering, death and resurrection, but Satan is like the dog behind a fence that reads "Beware of dog." Looking over that fence, we see a dog chained with limited reach, but we still insist on going into the fenced yard and once inside, finding out why the dog is dangerous. Why?

Peter uses the phrase "sober-minded" three times in his letter. The phrase is essentially at the beginning, middle, and end. He uses it a final time in this passage. Unfortunately, we equate "sober-minded" with "sobriety" which infers absent a state of inebriation. That's not the case here in Peter, and Peter speaks directly to this in verses 6 & 7. Humility is a state of putting God first and casting our anxieties, cares and concerns on Him. Unfortunately, the alternative is worry, and who among us is a "Worry Champion." I get so worried sometimes that I forget what I was actually worried about and worry about that too. Then I remember what it was and resume my worry about that.

What is it that allows something as simple as worry to become a tool of Satan? I can speak from experience that worry leads to David's solution which comes from arrogance thinking my mind can solve the problem it helped create. Arrogance is far from humility and taking matters into my own hands means I'm ignoring God's "mighty hand." You get the idea.

Satan may be a leashed dog in a yard, but sometimes Satan can be disarming and tempt us in ways that look harmless until we realize we are in the snare of a really bad dog.

The commandments are written in an order that places God first. Peter is telling us to humble ourselves at the foot of the cross and to focus on Christ. We have the assurance of our faith no matter what are facing.

What is it you are facing? Unplug today and see how you, and I, can let go and give it to God and ask His Spirit for guidance.