Be Sober. Be Watchful.

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 1 Peter 5:8 AMP

I read this verse to the team this morning. We prayed together and encouraged one another to be intentional with our last two weeks in Sarajevo. Because of the comfort we have found in the city, we could easily coast the rest of the trip. However, that is not our desire. Collectively, we are pursuing more fruitful relationships, smooth transitions and life transformations in ourselves and the people we have met.

A part of our intentionality is praying during Jumma, the Friday prayer at mosque. We walked through the city to the mosque and found a spot on the outside. I held on to the metal bars separating me from the men knelt down in prayer. As men gathered on mats in front of me, I prayed with more passion.

Lost in my own thoughts and prayers, a man walked up and stood rather close. He began speaking to me and I told him I did not speak Bosnian. He did not seem to mind and kept talking. He was dressed in all black, smelled horrible and smiled with sharp, jagged teeth. I gave up trying to communicate and ignored him until he walked away. I was relieved he walked away, but then I saw him in the corner of my eye. He walked in front of me, then behind me, then in front again. Thankfully, my friend Aldin stood beside me and protected me. For the rest of the prayer I saw him slowly circling around me and glaring my way. Often times I have seen spiritual manifests in the physical. That is exactly what I was seeing. The man was a physical representation of what our enemy has been doing in Sarajevo. He is prowling around seeking someone to devour.

When the prayer concluded the man walked back over to me. Unfortunately for him, I was raging with anger against the enemy and the confusion he has caused. The man began to flirt with me and with my finger pointed in his face, I sternly commanded, “No! No! No! Go away! Leave me alone!” The man seemed unaffected by my angry face and loud voice, but soon walked away.

I WILL NOT BE SILENT ANYMORE.

I am not making a judgement about the man, but the experience I had today made me more aware and sensitive to the flaming darts of the evil one and my need for the full armor of God.