Waiting for the Shot.

For those of you who do not know, I am a veteran.  I do not specifically remember if I have addressed that fact before.  I spent approximately 100 months (a bit less than 8 1/2 years) in the Army as a 95B2LQ9QB.

For anyone not versed in the jargon of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS's), that was a Military Police (95B-which has been changed since I left the military), 2 (Sergeant), L (linguist), Q9 (Traffic Accident Investigator), QB (Spanish-central American).  Quite a mouthful, but rarely used in its entirety except on certain paperwork.  I spent approximately half (right around 50 months) of my enlistment living and working overseas: 27 months in Uijeongbu, South Korea, 17 months in Colon, Panama, and 6 months on deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina.  I never minded going overseas, mainly since I never really saw myself traveling internationally too much on my own.  But I digress....

The point of this post is mostly to call out the extreme respect I have for veterans in general, and more specifically, those in the different branches' Special Operations groups (Rangers, Special Forces, PJ's, SEALS, Force Recon...).  I respect them because they do the job I could not (not from lack of ability, since I firmly believe I can do anything I set my mind to), but from lack of desire.

In this age of Reality TV, we have the opportunity to go "inside" the training of these Special Forces warriors.  While it make for intense and entertaining TV, I have no desire to live it (there was a time when I was in the Army where I considered it...I got over it fast).

Of all the individuals in the Spec Ops world (and military, in general), I have a great respect for the snipers.  The individuals who go out in 2-man teams and hide for hours and hours on end focused through the sights of the rifle, constantly analyzing and calculating variances based on the environment and how it will affect the trajectory of the package they are there to deliver. They lie there,  patiently waiting for the opportunity to gently squeeze the trigger and eliminate a threat.  My hat is off to you folks.

Before I get into trouble from my Spec Ops and sniper brethren, let me qualify the point I am about to make: You are not the devil, but Satan shares your skill set.

Intrigued?

Satan is a sniper.  He rarely conducts a full on frontal assault of his target.  He just watched and waits for the opportunity to strike.  I read this in (again, a Joyce Meyer) devotional recently.  I think it is very apt and something we should all take into consideration:

Satan is never in a hurry.  All he needs is an opportunity to inject unholy, self-centered thoughts into our heads.  If we don't kick them out, they stay.  And he can continue his evil, destructive plan.

There are 4 specific verses from the Bible I wish to share today in order to help us see this point.  First, 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV):

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

We must maintain an alertness to the fact that there will be attacks if we let our guard down.  So how do we combat this?

James 4:7 (KJV):

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

And, Ephesians 6:11 (KJV):

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

And, finally, Ephesians 4:27 (KJV) in the context from the post Anger Management (remember, Be ye angry and sin not...):

Neither give place to the devil.

Hmmm...I see a pattern here.  Verbs that require action.  Resist.  Put on.  We have to DO something to protect ourselves from attack.  An active defense and not passively waiting for assistance from God.  He WILL help you, but you HAVE TO DO SOMETHING to help yourself as well.  (I would encourage you to follow up in Ephesians 6 concerning the whole armor of God which will help you.)

Dearest Lord, thank you for helping me first understand that I have an enemy who is patiently waiting for the opportunity to pull the trigger.  Help me stay fully protected with the armor you provide.  Help me to fully submit to you and resist the devil.  Amen

Rejoice and be glad.