Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
— 1 Peter 5:8
In the operating room of a large hospital, a young nurse was completing her first full day of responsibilities. “You’ve only removed 11 sponges, doctor,” she said to the surgeon. “We used 12.”
“I removed them all,” the doctor declared. “We’ll close the incision now.”
“No,” the nurse objected. “We used 12 sponges.”
“I’ll take full responsibility,” the surgeon said grimly. “Suture!”
“You can’t do that!” blazed the nurse. “Think of the patient.”
The surgeon smiled, lifted his foot, and showed the nurse the 12th sponge. “You’ll do,” he said.
It’s often when the heat is on and the pressure rises that we’re most tempted to compromise in doing what we know is right. But it’s when we’re intimidated and our backs are against the wall that God calls us to radical faithfulness to what we know is right!
The world and the enemy will try to intimidate you into compromise. But don’t let them. Remain steadfast in what you believe and stay true to your godly convictions, no matter what!
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to give you the strength to stand strong in the face of the enemy’s intimidation.
Questions for Thought
Think of a time you stood firm for what you knew was right in the face of pressure. How did you feel when it was over?
Where is the enemy trying to get you to compromise today? How can you practically stand firm in the face of his intimidation?