Isolation Tactics

I'd like to talk about something that has been on my heart and mind lately.  I've begun to notice something that, up until now, hadn't really registered.  I've known for a while now that my inner zombie wants to gain control of me and send me running back into the darkness which I was born into but was delivered from through my faith in Jesus.  When in active combat with the zombie I am aware of it's presence and that it is trying to wrestle control from my spirit but when I am not in a struggle with my zombie I tend not to give it much thought.  I'm beginning to think that has been a mistake.

You see, I am not the most observant of people and if something is not on my immediate radar I tend to not give much thought to it.  I simply go about tending to what is on my radar.  I'm beginning to think that I am always on my zombie's radar and that it uses these times when I'm not paying attention to it to work behind the scenes to get me in a position where it can gain the advantage.  I guess I'm like a Captain on the front lines who hasn't been attacked on the left flank in a while and so I stop paying attention to it while unbeknownst to me my enemy is quietly moving forces there in order to launch a surprise attack.

The thing I keep forgetting is that my zombie is in cahoots with Satan.  My zombie hates the light and actually wants me to be devoured be the enemy so it can live in the darkness permanently. In 1 Peter 5:7-9 says: 

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
In verse 7 it talks about casting our anxiety on God because He cares for us.  Anxiety can be a big factor in our becoming isolated from those around us.  We tend to not want people to see us as weak and so when stress begins to build we tend to try to hide what we're feeling and in doing so we build a wall of sorts to keep others from seeing just how bad things are getting.  In doing this we are separating ourselves from our support and making ourselves a more appealing target.  You see, when we are under stress we tend to forget that there are brothers and sisters around the world who are dealing with similar issues to what we are facing.  We get it into our heads that we are the only ones dealing with a situation like the one we currently find ourselves in.  When we begin thinking that way our natural inclination is to remove ourselves from the company of others for fear that we will be exposed and therefore become an object of shame and ridicule.
Verse 8 talks about the devil looking for someone to devour.  In comparing the devil to a lion Peter is giving us a glimpse into the enemies tactics.  When lions hunt, they, like most predators, will go after a prey item that is isolated from the rest of its group and bring it down by taking it by surprise.  The devil operates in much the same way, he looks for someone who is isolated and then attacks when they are the most vulnerable.  Usually this is when they are stressed out and paying the least amount of attention.  Since the devil and his demons can't be everywhere at once our inner zombie plays a significant role in this hunt.  Since our zombie is a loyal soldier in the Enemy's camp it is always watching us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and while it will occasionally call for reinforcements it most often launches its attacks all on its own.
I find it interesting, however, that the first part of verse 8 talks about being self-controlled and alert.  So even though I've known the last half of this verse for years I have to admit that I hadn't noticed the first part at all but that is the part that I think is key to being able to carry out verse 9's exhortation to stand firm and resist the devil.
Galatians 5:16-26 talks about living by the Spirit of God and in verses 22 and 23 it lists the fruits of the Spirit in which we find self-control among the listed fruits.  It should come as no surprise then that self-control is key in resisting the devil.  Being self-controlled means that we are alert and aware of what is going on in and around us and so we become much less of a target.  A lion is looking for prey that isn't paying attention as it might be spotted and will have expended energy with nothing to show for it.  Also, by being self-controlled we are more prepared to put up a fight should we find ourselves under attack from without or within.  It also means that we are more tightly in tune with the Holy Spirit within us and are therefore able to mount a formidable defense and may even be positioned to go on the offense should the situation lend itself to such a tactic.
All of that to say that our inner zombie is always on the prowl and so we must be alert to its presence and tactics.  In being aware of that simple fact we should draw close to God and ask Him to develop within us Godly self-control that we might be best able to resist when the inevitable attack comes.  Lastly, we should remember that we aren't the only ones facing whatever circumstance we currently find ourselves in.  In fact 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." By remembering that it should help us to remember not to allow ourselves to become isolated either from God or our brothers and sisters in Christ as they can help us to overcome.