A fierce lion crouching down

Do you ever feel like the enemy is out to get you? The enemy is at work and is out to get you every single day. I believe that sometimes you don't even understand or notice the enemy at work. I think a lot of that depends on your relationship with Christ. If your relationship with Christ is very strong you are more likely able to distinguish what is evil and what comes from God. If you're relationship with Christ is so-so and like a rollercoaster, you sometimes understand what is going on, it's just not all of the time. If you don't have a relationship with Christ or if it's not very strong, I believe you are still able to distinguish between right and wrong, you just have a different understand about what is going on and a different meaning behind everything.

For me, these past couple of months, being where I am at spiritually (still nowhere near perfect or even close) I have been so much more aware of the work of the evil one and the work of God. My understanding of so many things makes so much more sense me. I know what is bad, and what is a sin, and I don't want to be a part of it. I want to be as obedient as I can possibly be by doing the right thing and loving God with all my heart. I struggle to put the feeling into words. I just feel like I know what is the right thing based on my relationship with Christ and all I want to do is the right thing all of the time.

This all goes along with feeling God's presence all the time. God is omnipresent meaning he is always present everywhere. It's difficult to feel His presence at times, but when your relationship is stronger, you feel it all the time. But that might be different for you. God works in mysterious ways.

The enemy is no joke. The enemy is out to get you in whatever way that the enemy can. By attacking your weaknesses and trying to get you where you are vulnerable.

I call on you, My God, for you to answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me. (Psalm 17:6-9)

This is a prayer from David. He is calling out to God making sure that He hears his prayer. David is longing for God to show him the wonders of God's great love. David wants to continue to be the apple of God's eye and is taking refuge in God. He wants to be in the shadow of God's wings and wants to be hidden from the wicked who are out to destroy me, and from his mortal enemies. I love this because it's how we should all be. We should call out to God, asking for his hedge of protection from the wicked and from mortal enemies all of the time. When we do that, we are more aware of what is happening around us and rely on God more.

The close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry to prey,
like a fierce lion crouching in cover. (Psalm 17:10-12)

The enemy is ticking out down. Like a hungry lion. I am sure you have seen those shows on Animal Planet that shows lion's tracking down and chasing their prey. It's so intense stuff! Those suckers are mean and will wait for the prey to be in the open, ready to be attacked, and then they do it. That is what the wicked do and the evil one does. Hides and waits for us to be open for attack and then attacks us.

Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; 
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (Psalm 17:13-15) 

David is crying out to the Lord to rise up, and to bring them enemy down. He wants to be saved from such people who are so wicked and evil. God will give the wicked what the wicked deserve and it will fill their bellies. When he closes with saying that "when I awake," I believe David is talking about a spiritual slumber that we are all in. When we awake from it, we will be satisfied with seeing God's likeness. That is true satisfaction. The true satisfaction only comes from God and nobody nor anything else.

My prayer for you is that you can be alert and recognize when the enemy is trying to attack you. When you recognize that, you rely on God more and when you do that, your relationship with Christ will soar to new heights.

Tame the lion with your obedience to rely on God.