When meteorologists tell us to be on watch for severe hazardous weather conditions, we become frantic—wasting no time to prepare. Grocery store shelves are stripped as everyone stockpiles food, water, and other vital necessities. As conditions mount and become life-threatening, highways become jam-packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic as people evacuate the area altogether. These storm watchers do a pretty good job tracking these systems so we won’t get caught off guard.
Nonetheless, there’s a perilous threat in the atmosphere meteorologists can’t detect even with all their sophisticated technological know-how. Regardless of their inabilities to inform us of this pending threat, we have been warned (see Matthew 24:44; Luke 12:39-40). But the panic to prepare for this evil seems to fall far short as compared to when natural disasters are in the forecast.
It’s not a comforting thought, but Christians are the devil’s main focus; he doesn’t need to waste time on sinners who he already has. Believing-believers, who stay prepared are his challenge. It’s only when we let down our guard of defense, we become vulnerable to his ploys.
Stay ready!
Having a close intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit is how we stay prepared. There’s no other way to safeguard our lives from the enemy other than by the Spirit. The more we read and do the Word of God, and the more one-on-one time we spend listening to Him speak to our spirits—the more threatening we are to the kingdom of darkness. But we aren’t to fear, as long as we stay on God’s narrow path.
And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21, AMP)
The way to hear the Spirit’s directions, is to purposefully pay attention. Even though believers are to rest in the Lord; giving Him all their worries and cares doesn’t mean to start removing pieces of the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:13-18). Why would soldiers lay their weapons down in the middle of warfare? Despite what the devil will say, there’s a spiritual war taking place.
The devil doesn’t blink; he winks!
The adversary never takes his attention off believers as he finds ways (some pleasantly alluring) to entice them to make certain compromises with the Word. He’s hoping they take on the mindset that it doesn’t take all that holy living to be in right standing with the Lord.
Consequently, we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern the enemy’s sly winks of approval as he plots to remove our armor. We must ask the Spirit to give us the desire to pray even when we don’t see the need to do so.
Even though meteorologists can’t warn us to take cover from approaching spiritual storms, Psalm 91:1 tells us exactly where to take cover.
He Who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadows of the Almighty [Whose power no foe an withstand] (Psalm 91:1, AMP).
Don’t get caught off guard!
© 2019
See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.
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