Monday, July 12, 2010

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

In the jungle, the quiet jungle, the lion sleeps tonight….
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Robert John, 1971

Do you believe in the devil? Sometimes we may joke, “The devil made me do it” when we give into temptations. But do you really believe the devil is trying to get you to do wrong things? Or Are you living your live without a thought to the devil at all?

1 Peter 5:8 warns us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Unfortunately many of us live our lives more like the Wemaway song, assuming that the “the lion sleeps tonight.” But the devil is not a sleeping lion, he is a prowling lion waiting to devour us.

The devil even tempted Jesus! The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and each time Jesus fought that temptation with the same phrase, "It is written..." Jesus used the Holy Scriptures, our Bible, to refute the devil. He shows us His perfect model to resist temptation: The Word of God, which is sharper than a sword (Heb 4:12), and ready to slay the lion, the devil.

We need to be reading the Bible and memorizing scripture so that we too can resist the devils temptation. Then when we are in the jungles of life, we can fight the lion. And win.

Musical Musings:
1. Do you believe the devil is a lion on the prowl or a sleeping lion?
2. Ask God to help you fight the devil, then get busy yourself memorizing God's word.
3. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) Stand strong in your resistance of sin, realizing that as you stand strong, the devil will eventually flee.

Karaoke: Dear Lord, Help me recognize and remember the truths of the Bible, so that I may resist the temptations of the devil. Give me faith in You Lord, keeping me alert and praying, so that I may not fall into temptation. And if I do fall, Lord, prompt me with the Holy Spirit so that I may turn and ask your forgiveness. Thank you for your precious son, who showed me how to fight temptation. In Jesus Name, amen.

Rock On: Read about how to protect yourself by wearing the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-18.

Chatty Kelly

9 comments:

Andrea said...

AMEN!!

Blessings and prayers,
andrea

Julie Gillies said...

Kelly, this was my absolute FAVORITE song when I was 9 years old! My babysitter had the record and let me play it over and over.

Cute devo! Hope you're having a good summer!

KrippledWarrior said...

I'm sorry KC. But doesn't the Bible warn us to flee from the devil and his temptations?
Just asking!
Kurt

Kelly Combs said...

Krippled Warrior -
The Bible says RESIST the devil and HE will flee from us. We resist by claiming God's word, I believe.

Susan Panzica - EternityCafe said...

Great post!
The devil is a lion, but one who had his teeth knocked out at Calvary. He has no power over the life committed to Christ. Still a lion without teeth is a strong adversary, and like a soldier, we should know our enemy and not fall into his treachery.

And when James says to "Resist the devil and he will flee," he first says to "Submit yourself to God." (Jms 4:7) Only when we are submitted to God, can we stand in His power to resist the devil.
Just a thought :)

KrippledWarrior said...

It's been Real!
It's been fun!
It's been Really fun!

2Thinks said...

"Shut da dohr, keep out da debil, shut da dohr, keep da debil in da ni- ight...shut da dohr, keep out da debil...light a candle, everyting awright, light a candle, everyting awright..."

Sharon Sloan - Joy In The Truth said...

Hi, Kelly! I am slowly but surely catching up on reading my favorite blogs. Vacation was fun and we are slowly getting back into a groove here at home. (Groove -- get it -- musical mondays!) :)

You know I will be singing this song all night now! In the jungle....

I am reading a parenting devotional right now and one reminded us how the devil wants to kill and destroy. God is stronger and He dwells in us, for which I am so thankful. But we have to be aware and be on guard and indeed submit to God and resist the devil.

Rock on, sister-friend!

Hugs,
Sharon

ps - still hoping you may come to PA this summer!

Sue J. said...

I think we have to remember the story of Job, here, too. God does not give Satan access to just anyone and for any reason. Although, we all have "devils" that plague us, and we do need to submit to God, our only help, in the things to which we are bound. He is the only one who can free us.

But, when tempted, we can choose to follow Jesus' way because God's Word shows us the way. We need to call upon God for the strength and His wisdom to make the right choices.

Love my word verification: preyr (We need prayer to beat the Preyr!)

And, I didn't know Robert John wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." He's the "Sad Eyes" guy.