A Godly Pattern for Living

Have you ever noticed how life seems to push us toward the very things that hurt us most? 

Pride convinces us that we deserve recognition. Anxiety whispers that everything depends on us. Temptation promises an easier path if we’ll just give in. In the middle of all that, the Apostle Peter gives us a different vision for life—a godly pattern that brings freedom, peace, and strength.

In his first letter, Peter lays out three simple but challenging steps: relinquish your rights, rely on God, and resist the devil. These aren’t just religious duties. They’re a way of life that shapes our character and keeps us aligned with God’s heart.

Relinquish Your Rights

Peter begins with a call to humility:

1 Peter 5:5-6 (NLT)

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Relinquishing your rights doesn’t mean you stop having opinions or that your needs don’t matter. It means stepping away from the me-first mentality that dominates our world. Instead of demanding control, insisting on being heard, or clinging to recognition, humility calls you to trust God and serve others.

Jesus is our example here. Though He was God, Philippians 2 tells us He did not cling to His divine rights but humbled Himself—even to the point of death on a cross. True humility isn’t weakness; it’s the strength to surrender to God’s timing and trust His plan.

Rely on God

After humility, Peter addresses something we all carry: worry.

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

The picture here is vivid—it’s like tossing a heavy load onto someone else’s shoulders. God doesn’t ask us to pretend our problems aren’t real. He invites us to hand them to Him because He cares deeply for us.

Think about the burdens you carry—financial stress, family struggles, uncertainty about the future. It’s like walking around with a backpack full of rocks. God says, “Give it to Me. I can carry that.”

When we rely on God, we’re not ignoring reality. We’re admitting that we’re not strong enough on our own and choosing to trust the One who is.

Resist the Devil

Finally, Peter gives a sober warning:

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT)

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

The devil is real, and his goal is to derail our faith. He tempts us to doubt God’s goodness, to give in to fear, or to compromise when obedience feels too costly. Peter doesn’t tell us to fight in our own strength—he tells us to resist by standing firm in faith.

Jesus shows us how. When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, He resisted with the truth of Scripture: “It is written…” God’s Word is our anchor when the enemy roars.

And here’s some encouragement: we don’t fight alone. Christians all over the world face the same battle. The family of God surrounds us, reminding us that resistance is possible and that victory belongs to Christ.

A Pattern Worth Following

Peter’s pattern for living is as countercultural now as it was in the first century:

• Relinquish your rights—choose humility over pride.
• Rely on God—cast your worries onto the One who cares for you.
• Resist the devil—stand firm in faith, anchored in God’s truth.

This is the way of Jesus—the One who humbled Himself, trusted the Father, and triumphed over the enemy. When we follow His lead, we discover the freedom of humility, the peace of trusting God, and the strength to stand firm in a world that wants to pull us away from Him.


Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.