Just a thought: "Shut that LION mouth!!"

You may have to say that several times a day if you are a faithful follower of Christ. Because the truth is we live in a world where "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

The devil is a liar (John 8:44b) and he wants you to fall prey to his lies: "If you were really in the will of God, things wouldn’t be so hard." "If you are really supposed to be doing this ministry, things would be better." "If God really loved you, He wouldn’t let you stress and struggle." SHUT that LION mouth!!

The truth is, living as a faithful follower of Christ is a guarantee you’re going to have battles. This is why God’s Word tells us to be equipped with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). If following the will of God were always without suffering, trouble and testing, Jesus was out of the will of the Father when He went to the cross and died a brutal death. The apostles should have quit spreading the gospel and preaching the Word, planting churches and doing ministry. SHUT that LION mouth!

The greater truth is not that we won’t have to endure hardship or difficulty. The greater truth is: What are these things to us when God is standing with and for us? (Romans 8:31)

I can promise you this: If you are going to live for Christ, you are going to have to stand among the LION mouths. But don’t fear. Tust in God, for He can SHUT those LION mouths.

"And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:23) The same will be true for you if you do like Daniel did.

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Dr. William Burnham is pastor of Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.