Will You Take the Bait?

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Well, I finally had a glimpse of what it feels like to "prowl around like a lion, seeking someone to devour." I went fishing for the first time on our boat. Years ago, we went on a fishing charter where everything was done for you on the boat and all you had to do was cast...which we got nothing anyway. But, this weekend, the family went out and we did it all on our own. We chummed the water, baited our own hooks and began the cast and wait routine. The prowling....and waiting. 
Down here in the Keys, being on the water is gorgeous. Eventhough I wanted food on the table, and for the kids to catch it themselves, just the scenery alone was worth the hanging out on the boat all that time just to enjoy the turtles, corals, the landscapes and array of other fish we got to enjoy. It was a lovely day out, fish or no fish, but...it was quit the "hunting" experience.
We had learned that in order to draw the fish, you bag some chum and mix in the oatmeal which will camouflage your waiting hooks. We would shake the bag now and then, set new hooks and bait, and wait. We watched and waited patiently, scanning the area for what was coming next. The fish probably assumed "Wow, how wonderful, and new, and easy....look at this delightful treat bag." And we were up top assuming they would fall for our bait. We were luring them in by what they wanted most- fresh, free food. We just waited. Little by little, we chummed the water, sat still and silent and waited. We waited for "someone" to take the bait.
I was reminded of 1 Peter 5:8. Isn't that what Satan does to us? He chums our waters, makes it look good, waits patiently, sitting still while we swim around trying to decide if we will take a nibble as he draws us in...only for us to eventually get hooked?! He is clever. 
What draws you in? What type of bait gets you curious, or tempted enough, to come a little closer in, and maybe, possibly, even attempt a nibble.....just once? Just like each fish has it's own type of bait-mix, so do we. The temptation-mix that catches our attention and lures us in is as diverse as all of us are. None are the same. What hooks you, may not be what hooks me. You can't help but notice all the thousands of lures in any bait shop, big or small, you can choose from to bait (and catch) just the right fish. Imagine the schemes of the devil...they are just as plentiful. 
Next time the waters around you get a little cloudy, "...be watchful!!! Your adversary the devil, prowls around...seeking someone to devour." Remember, God CLEARS our water and Satan CHUMS our water. 

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

Ephesians 6:11