Putting a Muzzle on the Roaring Lion

        When you are only eight years old and riding a bicycle you have that fear of dogs that you know are living at certain houses.  We had such a dog about a quarter of a mile from our house.  it was what seemed to me to be a monster as it was a large tricolor Collie that really liked to chase my bicycle.  The dog was in a big yard and I could hear him coming as the barking got louder and louder.  He could always catch me and would start nipping at my feet.  I was heading down to the gas station to get a Royal Crown Cola and a Moon Pie and nothing was going to stop me from that quest.  I would peddle as fast as I could and then when he got close I would life my feat and hope I could coast out of his domain.  He usually stopped when we began to get out of perimeter of the house.  I think he got me one time with a little nip but his bark was worse than his bite.  First Peter 5:8 says, " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"   
     We need to be forever reminded of Satan's tactics as he goes about seeking his unsuspecting prey.  He is seemingly just around the corner in your Christian life.  He will attack when you least expect it.  We have those mountain top experiences where things are just wonderful and you realize the Lord's presence and then all of a sudden you get attacked.  Things might be going well just before he roars and jumps on you.  You might try to pull your feet up and coast by but that's not going to work with him.  One of the things that is helpful is to know his tactics.  Satan is going to be attacking the truth with his half lies.  Satan is going to be working to tear down all of the truth in your life that makes you a believer.  Satan will start by making you doubt your salvation and to doubt that God cares or that God can take care of your problems.  We sometimes think that if we pet the lion, he will like us and not harm us.  I never tried to pet that tricolor Collie especially when I was speeding by on my bicycle.  Psalm 1 paints a very good lesson for us.  Verse 1 says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."  The one who is in trouble first walks with the ungodly, then stands in the way and finally takes a seat with them.  So, our prevention is to stay as close to God as we can and we can do this by  Scripture and Prayer to conform us to the image of God.  Praise God today for His putting a muzzle on the Roaring Lion