Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
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The word "vigilance" has come to mind in a profound way. Profoundly in that a few days ago I could have died on the way back from taking Brandon to his day program...
Vigilance means the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties...
No, I wasn't on my phone texting or talking - but I was distracted. Distracted by thoughts of family conflicts and by the recent death threats the VAXXED Team members are getting more frequently. I guess my mind was wandering, -- and while I saw the red light before me, I guess I was so distracted that I proceeded as if I was "going right on red" even though it was a left hand turn.
I am Praising God for the "vigilance" of the driver of that ugly gray car that saw me before he hit me. If he/she had not, it would surely have been a "t-bone" collision right in my drivers side door. But thankfully, no harm was done on the near miss and we both drove on our merry way to wherever.... Me, thankful for their vigilance, and them most likely cussing me out!
I'm glad that happened though because it definitely made me step back and slow down and be more diligent, deliberate, and less distracted while driving. Most importantly, more vigilant in my driving. Of which I do a lot of each and every day in delivering my son to and from his day program...
But it also was an incident that called me to be just as diligent, deliberate, and less distracted in my daily life as well. More vigilant in all aspects of my faith, perhaps in that most importantly.
It is not lost on me that for all of this New Year I have been deliberating in prayer what my word, my theme for this year would be...
And I think that day with that incident, at least that prayer was answered.
I need to be vigilant.
I need to keep careful watch over my thoughts, my actions, and my prayers.
So many possible collisions, conflicts, and crisis' of faith can be averted by simply being vigilant.
Complacency is the satan of vigilance, faith, and prayer.
I became complacent in driving by distraction and because of division.
I can become just as complacent in prayer, in faith, in advocacy, in everything! And much like what could have happened if the other driver wasn't so vigilant, my lack of vigilance in those aspects of my daily life could come at a very high cost as well. Satan can cause distraction and division to divert my attention just long enough for his evil schemes to devour me.
In my Bible commentary for the verse I began this writing with, it states:
Lions attack sick, young, or straggling animals; they choose victims who are alone or not alert. Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. If you are feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, or if you are so focused on your troubles that you forget to watch for danger, those are the times when you are especially vulnerable to Satan's attacks. During times of suffering, seek other Christians for support. Keep your eyes on Christ, and resist the devil. Then, says James, "he will flee from you" - James 4:7
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I am so thankful for those in my life who are such a support to me, and if you are someone who doesn't have such a support system -- I welcome the opportunity to attempt to be that for you!
The enemy is prowling...
Be Vigilant!
#HOPEISM
