When Jesus said, in John 10:10 that, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly,” He was referring to spiritual warfare – this depending on how you perceive or accept it is very real.

Likewise, in 1 Peter 5:8, the enemy who is the thief is also likened to a roaring lion that walks about seeking who to devour.

Truth is while God is chasing us down with a heart full of love, Satan is chasing us down with total hatred.

In other words, it is an already established fact the enemy will taunt you, but when he comes at you – roaring ferociously too, just so you are destabilized and afraid, all the Lord is simply asking is faith in Him: The size of a mustard seed.

A type of radical faith was displayed in the case of a popular man in the Bible – Daniel, you probably would have heard of Daniel and the lions’ den. Maybe as a child in Sunday school or perhaps, while you listened to a sermon in church, but just in case you haven’t, here is a rundown.

One day, King Darius of the Medo-Persian Empire divided his territory among high officers. Daniel was one of them, and he was favoured by the king.

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3)

So, once it became obvious that Daniel was favoured and highly preferred, the other administrators and high officers became jealous of him. In fact, they began to pay close attention to the way Daniel did his job, hoping to find a fault, but they couldn’t find one no matter how hard they tried. Daniel was a good man, but the men knew something else about Daniel — and that was that he was religious.

“Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:5)

When all else failed, the men conspired to manipulate King Darius into signing a law – “All presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the dens of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.” (Daniel 6:7-9)

Despite the new decree, Daniel was unbothered and unrelenting because he refused to compromise the service of his father. The jealous men found Daniel praying, and off they went to snitch.

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.” (Daniel 6:16-17)

Now, King Darius liked Daniel. He didn’t want Daniel destroyed by lions. But King Darius had made a law that he was forced to keep. After Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, the king fasted and struggled throughout the night. Early in the morning the next day, he decided to go check on Daniel.

So, once it was confirmed that Daniel was alive, the king commanded the release of Daniel from the den. Because Daniel trusted and believed in God, the Lord didn’t allow a slight scratch on him.

Two other people who through their faith in God were able to overcome trials and challenges that roared against them are:

David: This great man was at a point in his life a responsible shepherd, he protected and guarded his sheep with his life. It was recorded in 1 Samuel 17:34-35 that while he tended the sheep, he defended the sheep. One time it was a lion that attacked the sheep and tried carrying off a lamb. David killed the lion. Another time a bear grabbed a lamb and again, David killed the bear.
David could have allowed the wild animals have their way by devouring animals from his flock at will, but he chose to fight and kill them. This is only to tell us that by faith, you also are called to protect what the Lord God has given you to guard.

Samson: While Samson and his parents walked through the vineyards of Timnah, a young lion came roaring toward him, the Spirit of the Lord came on him and he literally tore that lion apart with his bare hands. (Judges 14:5-6) His great strength came from the Lord…at the right time. This is just to show that when the Spirit of the Lord is involved in your situation you also can do amazing feats of strength. It is God’s strength, not your own that will give you victory.

Samson’s faith must have greatly grown after that encounter. This is because whenever you have victory, your faith will be strengthened.

Permit us to confirm to you this day that God still shuts the mouths of lions. More specifically, God shuts the mouth of a roaring lion named Satan.

Maybe you often find yourself in lions’ dens. You feel like Satan is surrounding you. You feel like you’re being devoured and destroyed. Satan is telling you lies – About God. About yourself. About others. He’s convincing you to lose hope. “There’s no use in trying. You’ll never be healed. You’ll never get help. They’ll never be saved. You’ll never get God’s attention.” The lies and accusations come like roars from Satan’s mouth.

Please be rest assured that God is greater than Satan. Jesus is victorious. Cry out the name of Jesus and watch as God shuts the mouths of lions.