The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8—“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Friend, let me remind you today—you’ve got an enemy. And he’s not some cartoon character with a red suit and pitchfork. He’s real, he’s ruthless, and he’s roaming—looking for somebody to chew up and spit out.

But Peter doesn’t tell us that to scare us. He tells us that to wake us up. Be sober—keep your mind clear. Be vigilant—stay on guard. Because the enemy is sneaky, and he doesn’t come with a warning label. He slips into your thoughts, stirs up your fears, whispers lies about your worth, and tries to convince you that God has forgotten you.

But here’s the good news—he can roar, but he’s already been defanged at the cross! The Lion of Judah has the final word. So when the devil comes knocking, you don’t have to cower—you can stand on God’s Word, resist him in faith, and watch him flee.

Today, don’t give the enemy a foothold in your heart. Keep your eyes open, your Bible close, and your Savior closer. Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world!

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” (Psalm 84:5 KJV)

There’s something powerful in that little word blessed. The psalmist is reminding us that real strength doesn’t come from our bank account, our health, or even our willpower—it comes from the Lord. When life feels heavy, and the road ahead looks long, that’s when we find out what we’ve really been leaning on. If our strength is in ourselves, we’ll run out quick. But if our strength is in God, we’ll find a reservoir that never runs dry.

And notice the second part: “in whose heart are the ways of them.” That means the journey itself is written on the inside. You don’t just know the path—you carry it in your heart. Even in valleys, even in deserts, the blessed man keeps moving forward because his map is internal, guided by God.

So today, if you’re weary, lift your eyes. Your blessing isn’t in how strong you feel—it’s in who your strength comes from. Put your heart back on His path, and you’ll discover that no matter where the road winds, His strength will carry you through.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Friend, life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. And the writer of Hebrews reminds us that the stands are already full—heroes of faith cheering us on, shouting from the sidelines, “Don’t give up! Keep running!”

But here’s the truth: you can’t run well if you’re carrying baggage. Some of us are trying to run with bitterness strapped to our back, worry tied to our waist, or guilt wrapped around our legs. No wonder we’re worn out! The Word says to lay it aside. Put it down. Leave it behind.

And then it says, run with patience. Not panic. Not pride. But steady, faithful endurance. Every step you take in obedience, every stride you make in faith, is bringing you closer to the finish line where Jesus is waiting.

So today, whatever’s weighing you down—drop it. Run light. Run free. Run with your eyes on Jesus. Because He’s not just the starting line; He’s the finish line too.