Satan’s strategy has not changed. Just as he set out to trick the first people, so he seeks to deceive us today. Mixing truth and lies, his purpose is always to steal to kill, and to destroy, a purpose that is usually well disguised. Those disciples who remain spiritually vigilant will recognise Satan’s attempts to trick them and will resist him. Understanding this aspect of spiritual warfare, Peter writes, “Be sober [self-controlled], be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). As Peter implies here, Satan is a pretender. He walks about ‘like’ a roaring lion. In other words, he presents himself as far more powerful than he really is. Far from being a lion, he is better compared to a serpent, his chosen guise when he appeared in the garden of Eden. There is One who truly is a lion – Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and as we stay close to Him, we will be safe. We may be sheep, but as someone once said, “You are a sheep with a lion escort!” Those who daily practice the presence of God, quietening their hearts and imagining Jesus speaking to them, will train their spiritual senses to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Through their self-control and spiritual watchfulness, they will see Satan’s tricks and lies for what they are, and his infernal plans for their life will fail.