Today’s Digi-Doodle, “Bouquet,” was done as reminder to my that I need to continually be on my toes. I must guard my words and actions. I must be alert, watching traps set by the
devil.
1 Peter 5:8 isn’t an isolated verse. We are warned, at least a dozen times in the Bible to be self-controlled and about that same number of times to be alert, keep watch, and guard ourselves.
Why is it so important to be self-controlled and alert? 1 Peter 5:8 gives us the answer: Satan is prowling about, looking to trap us, to destroy us, to ruin our lives and our spiritual testimony.
I pray that you and I will follow Peter’s urging and always remain self-controlled and alert, careful never to give the devil any opportunity to do damage in our lives or cause us to do damage to ourselves or others.
Related Bible Verses:
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 – “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
1 Timothy 3:2 – “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”
Titus 1:8 – “Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”
Titus 2:1-12 – “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Ecclesiastes 5:1 – “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.”
Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 24:42 – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Acts 20:28 – “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”