Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.

~1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

I once happened upon a situation where a person was extremely angry with their dogs. They yelled, hollered, and chased after the dogs in a threatening manner, trying to get the animals to move from one area to another. But the dogs were terrified and scattered in different directions, desperately fleeing from this bully’s path. I had encountered a bully. 

One of the frightened creatures, spotting me, ran to my side and huddled against my leg. Having viewed where their owner wanted them to go, I spoke calmly and quietly to the little canine and walked toward the designated area. The pup followed. As I approached the assigned area, I called the other dogs over to me, speaking positively. All the dogs responded and were soon safely out of the bully’s way.

Fear kept these dogs from hearing their owner’s loud and angry voice since dogs respond to tone and attitude more than words. When I introduced the right tone and attitude, their ears were alert, and they could listen and obey.

Just as this person’s dogs scattered and ran in fear, our enemy, known in the Word as Satan or the devil, also seeks to put us on the run. He bullies us with fear tactics. Satan wants us to doubt God and His truth. He wants us to rebel against God, just as he did. He seeks to cause doubt in our lives, regarding our faith, often when we are most vulnerable.

When sickness, sorrow, economic crisis, natural disasters, relational difficulties, and the like assault us, the enemy of our souls roars in with his lies, seeking to steal the truth from our hearts. He desires to crush our view of God, bombarding us with doubts and fears concerning our situation.

Amidst his rampage and our resultant fear, we have difficulty hearing the calm voice of our Lord. The voice that reminds us of His ability to use all things for our good. He can grant us strength and wisdom to endure amidst it.

We should learn to recognize our enemy and his tactics by studying the Word and committing it to heart. Then, on the day of attack, amidst the lion’s roaring, we can tune our ear to God’s still, quiet voice of assurance and hope. He can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

~Ephesians 3:20 NIV

Don’t let the enemy of your soul bully you.

Father God, when the enemy roars into my life, teach me to stand firm. Help me to listen to Your still, quiet voice of hope, wisdom, and safety. In Christ’s name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: The Bully: Lynne Phipps: All Rights Reserved