THE LION PROWLS

            I hunkered down in the tall grass and put the cow call to my lips. “Yeeow!” The talk of a cow elk sounded in the evening stillness. It was bow season and I was in the rugged Montana Bitterroot mountains with a hunter who was 40 feet up the open slope from me. It seemed that year the bulls were not anxious to fight. Bugling only made them skittish, causing them to sneak away after an answering bugle or two, so the idea was to entice a bull, hopefully a big herd bull, to the new cows on the mountain.

            I made a few more calls, making them sound like different cows and leaned on my pack staying down in the grass. Suddenly, near me, I saw movement in the grass and found myself staring into the eyes of a cat.

            A tawny mountain lion with belly to the ground, stared back. He was only six feet from me and he was in full stalk. At first it didn’t dawn on me that one leap and he would be on me, I only saw the beauty and wonder of one of God’s most awesome creatures. He was the essence of all that is wild, his muscles taught and still, his eyes intense and focused. On me.

            I sat up. He sat up. Curiosity shone in the golden depths of his round eyes. My mind could hardly take in the wonder of being so near to this absolutely wild, yet beautiful creature. Then he tilted his head, the look in his eyes changing to interest. Intense interest. In me. As a possible meal. There was no doubt, I saw it plainly in his eyes.

            I remembered I had no weapon.

            “Mountain lion!” I said in what I thought was a loud voice. There was no sound from up the slope. No grass rustling to indicate the hunter was moving my way, bringing his bow and arrows to my rescue.

            The lion moved not a muscle. His eyes only intensifying all that wild energy. On me. Lying there in the grass sounding like an elk, possibly a calf elk, which would be this cat’s choice prey. Like a t-bone steak, just sitting on the grill.

            So do something.

            Standing up to make myself bigger than the cat, I yelled, “Get out of here!” And waved my arms.

            The young mountain lion did a back flip and bounded away.

            My legs turned to jello. Sitting down, I looked up the slope. Where had my mighty hunter gone with his pointed sticks?

            “Did you see that?” I asked. I heard laughter.

            Laughter? Amazement, even hiding under a bush, I could understand. But laughing?

            “Where were you?” I yelled. Well, maybe said breathlessly.

            “What was that?” He chocked out between chuckles as he crab walked towards me.

            “A mountain lion!” I exclaimed. “You mean you didn’t see it?”

            “No, all I could see was your face,” he collapsed on the ground beside me giving in to another fit of hilarity. I didn’t quite see the humor. “And you should have seen your expression! I knew something amazing was there, but didn’t know if it was the biggest bull you ever saw or what.” And no he hadn’t heard what I thought was a loud voice.

            The light was starting to fade so we decided to give it one more try for an elk. Silly us not to realize any decent elk would be smarter than we were staying away from the vicinity of a prowling mountain lion. Gingerly, I cow talked and waited on the alert. This time having snagged one of the hunter’s arrows which I clasped tightly in my hand.

            After sitting there maybe five minutes, an eerie, spine tingling scream split the evening stillness. Followed by snarls and growls and more hair raising screams. Definitely the sounds of a very put out cat. The heart pounding noise went on for several minutes and the hunter watched an angry mountain lion stalk across the open hillside above him with it’s tail whipping from side to side.

“The thief comes in order to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

            Satan, our enemy is always on the prowl. Surely he knows he can not steal our salvation. Never can he pluck us from the Savior’s hand. We are God’s child, sealed forever for redemption. Nothing on earth nor any power of hell can separate us from the love of God. Yet the thief, our enemy, comes only for the purpose to steal to kill and to destroy. Why does he do that?

            First of all he hates God and he hates those who follow God, he’s out to get us in any way he can. Anything that brings glory to God, Satan will try to destroy. He steals our joy, robs our peace and strives to destroy and smash our faith. He wants us down, depressed, discouraged, afraid, angry and defeated.

            If we are God’s child Satan can not alter our minds or touch us- without God’s permission, but he can try to deceive us anyway possible. And he does. He buries us in guilt and suffocates us with shame. Like sheets of rain pouring down, he pounds doubt upon us, until our feeble faith is flooded with fear and despair.

            Satan will do anything to keep us from glorifying God with our lives. Lies will come in all forms, in half truths, in whispered thoughts, in well meaning advice, in TV, the internet, books, and the media. When we are deceived and defeated we do not glorify God. Folks look at us and see little difference from those who do not follow Jesus.

            Satan wants our works to be wheat, straw and stubble that will burn up in the difficulties of life. They will show for nothing in the scope of eternity. He does not want our lives to be silver, gold and bronze which do not burn, which will stand firm and strong in the fiery trials and will glorify God.

            The Bible says, “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Withstand him.”

            Like the mountain lion prowling after the elk, we know our enemy comes only to rob, kill and destroy the abundant life Jesus gives us. Also we know that he is like a very hungry lion seeking to devour our lives. So how do we withstand him?

            The answer is in 1 Peter 5:6-9 Amplified. “Humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation) under the mighty hand of God. Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

            Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times for the enemy of yours, the devil roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger) seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him, be firm in the faith (against his onset–rooted established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same sufferings are appointed to your brothers throughout the world.”

            First we need to put ourselves under God’s authority, make Him boss of our lives. Be willing to live our lives following His way. If we aren’t living the way God wants us to, if we are letting sin have control, then Satan already has a foothold and a way into our lives. We must stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and His truth.

            Then at all times and especially when things get tough we need to cast our cares on Him. Give our worries into His hands. “Casting your WHOLE care on Him”. Everything, not just some things, not just the big things, but the little things and the everyday things. Every care, every fear, every worry, even if it seems impossible.

            We need to stop striving with our problems, instead give our troubles to the One Who Moves Mountains. Stop trying to figure it out when we can’t, even if it seems that’s what we need to do. Our minds tend to go down every trail, think every angle, wonder around every corner and boy can Satan run with that! The things he can put into our imaginations, all the what if’s and could be’s and probable’s. Talk about peace robbers and joy smashers! So give it to Him instead. And leave it in His mighty hands. Once and for all.

            Just as the calf elk sleeps peacefully, trusting his mama will watch and protect him, even when the lion prowls, we need to trust God.

            Here comes the hard part, the part that requires work.

            Be well balanced. Easy. Right? Self controlled is what the NIV says. Temperate, using good judgment, controlling ones emotions such as anger. Oh boy a hard one for me. Also other devastating emotions, such as attraction, lust, greed, jealousy, pride, fear and so on. Be alert, sober minded, vigilant, on the lookout for the enemy, this is war folks!

            What about grumbling and complaining? Another hard one in my world. Grumbling and complaining strangles the life out of joy. A negative attitude kills contentment. Immediately!   Don’t worry I do it plenty on my own, I don’t need Satan’s help on this one, but Satan would love to have us complaining and negative instead of praising and thanking God. Thanksgiving is the weapon for this one.

            Be cautious at all times. Whoa, that’s a good one nowadays when anything that feels good goes. Just because it looks good, seems good, or feels good doesn’t mean it is good in God’s eyes. We must remember Satan is the father of deception. He is prowling all the time looking for someone to devour, to kill to destroy. He may not be able to snatch us from our Savior’s hand, but he can destroy our lives, he can kill our testimonies, and he certainly can rob our abundant life.

            Just like that lion seeking an opportunity when the calf wonders away from it’s mama, Satan waits for us to step away from our Protector’s side so he can pounce.

          So withstand him! This is war! He is our enemy! Fight! Stand firm! No retreat! No surrender! No giving in! No giving up ground gained!

            Test everything with the word of God, sift all things with prayer, be filled with the Spirit and sensitive to His prompting.

            Trust God through all things. Trust and confidence in the Most High is our strength. Be rooted in Him. Be established. Be strong. Be immovable. Like a tree planted by the water, roots deep, we will not be moved. Be determined.

            “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hand you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded.” James 4:8 (NIV)

            Stay close to God where Satan is NOT. Walk His path always. Make sure there is no sin between you and your Father so Satan can not wedge between you. Know Him. Love Him. Listen for His voice. Follow Him.

            Do I want to give Satan the victory? No! I will not be deceived by my enemy. I will not give into the wiles of the devil.   I will lean on my Savior! I will let Him fight my battles! He is my Deliverer!   He has the Victory!

            “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

            Stand firm! Fight! Use your hooves, the truth, the blood of Jesus, whatever you have, but fight! Resist! At all costs! Your abundant life depends on it! Possibly your very life.

            I love this.

            “The sheep that are My own, hear and are listening to My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28 (Amp.)