The Battle Is Won Before the First Shot is Fired (1 Peter 5:8)

Military experts have been counseled that every battle is won before the first shot is fired. Many have attributed the original quote to Sun-Tzu, the Chinese military strategist whose writings are still studied in military academies, thousands of years after it was first written.

But it is not just in warfare that this principle is applicable. The meaning is clear to anyone who utilizes strategy to defeat an opponent, whether in the arena of sports, business, or combat. One must diligently prepare for the next battle, knowing everything about your opponent and understanding when to attack and when to retreat.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8

We live in a dangerous world. It is dangerous because it is a fallen world, not the world that God had originally created for us. But thanks be to God that He has provided us the weapons and strategy to, not only survive, but to be more than conquerors! The Bible is God’s Word and we need to read it, study, and meditate upon it. And when temptation or evil is upon us, we need to immediately bring it to our minds, for this is the weapon we use to defeat Satan and his tactics.

If this is a time of relative peace and calm in your life, thank God for it. Then take the opportunity to prepare for the next battle, for it will surely come.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.