If you know me, you know that I’m a BIG Alabama Crimson Tide fan.  I graduated from the University. I bleed crimson.  Needless to say, I’ve been pretty excited since the 42-14 victory over Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship played here in Miami on January 7^th.  I’ve been reading just about everything out there about the game.

I read the January 14, 2013 Sports Illustrated article, BCS Championship Heir Force.  It was a good recap of the game and the season.  One thing struck me though from a quote of one of Alabama offensive line players, Anthony Steen.  He said, “We knew from film study that if we shifted a certain way, Notre Dame was probably going to shirt a certain way that would give us some blocking angles. And they did. Every time.”  Rather they looked at what Notre Dame’s tendencies were and exploited them.

I believe in the spiritual realm our enemy, the Devil, does the same things. Peter warned in 1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB) Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.   The Devil is going around looking for your tendencies that he can exploit, so he can defeat you.

So, let’s say you are a solid Christ-follower, but like all of us there are areas in your life where you struggle with temptation. Maybe you’re a guy who every so often has the tendency to linger too long looking at a low cut blouse or at a girl in a bikini on some internet site you’re on. The Devil is going to look at your tendency and try to exploit it.  Or let’s say you’re a gal, who although you don’t like it, sometimes you get in the comparison game with other women. You see how they are dressed and immediately you become critical. Then when you’re on the phone talking to one of your girlfriends, her name comes up and your tendency is to gossip.  The Devil is going to look at your tendency and try to exploit it.

The solution is “Be on the alert.”  Recognize your tendencies and try to correct them so you won’t be devoured and defeated.  1 Peter 5:9a (HCSB) Resist him, firm in the faith.  He’s after your tendencies to temptation —RESIST!

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