I was reading 1 Peter and got to the very well-known scripture warning us of the devil’s dirty deeds. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)

As I was thinking about that something struck me that I had paid very little attention to before. Satan and his multitude of evil minions are a scary bunch, but I gave them little thought. It is unhealthy (spiritually) to concentrate too much on the evil spiritual realm, just as it is unhealthy to fear it too much. 1 John 4:4 tells us we need not fear them. “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (NASB). Although the context is false prophets of the time it applies to all unclean spirits, evil entities, spirits of error, and such, that would lead us astray. I believe it would have to because Satan can’t be everywhere at once so, there are many demons/fallen angels out there working for him.

We hear that warning in 1 Peter so often but have you ever recognized how many times we are actually told that the Lord is doing the same thing, only for good? We know God watches over us as His children but it was really uplifting to find it written so plainly, so many times in His Word. Here are just a few of the many I ran across.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB)

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

Job 34:21-22 (NASB)

“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,

And He sees all his steps.

There is no darkness or deep shadow

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” (They can’t even hide themselves from God!)

Jeremiah 16:17 (NASB)

“For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.”

Zechariah 4:10 (NASB)

“—these are the eyes of the Lord which range to and fro throughout the earth.”

And He will never forsake us! I didn’t realize how many times we are told that He will not forsake us but the comfort from seeing it written several times is immeasurable.

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 (NASB)

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

1 Samuel 12:22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.”

Psalm 94:14 (NASB)

“For the Lord will not abandon His people,

Nor will He forsake His inheritance.”

King David was talking to his son, Solomon and summed it all up very nicely in 1 Chronicles 28:20

“Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.” (NASB).

And just to make sure we as New Testament Christians got it, God made sure the writer of Hebrews quoted Deuteronomy 31:6 before he closed out that last chapter of the book. “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5 (NASB)

We can believe that for ourselves – it is truth from God’s own Word – He will not forsake us and will help us fulfill all that He has designed for us to do, as Philippians 1:6 says, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

I was raised in church but always felt like I was missing something. Now the Word of God excites me! My curiosity enhances the pursuance of discernment. I have often felt discouraged, but not totally defeated knowing that in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.