Vigilant

As I walked out to my patio to spend time with the Lord and prepare this devotion, I took a good look around. We live on a pond in Florida and many in our community have been finding venomous snakes lurking around their homes. I certainly don't want to plop down on my outdoor couch and find I'm sitting on an unwelcomed visitor!

The Lord immediately gave me this word for you! VIGILANT: keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, yet there are dangers that lurk here. The sea is a beautiful emerald color, but we must be mindful of the hidden dangers. Many drown when they don't heed to warning signs, even when they are posted in the form of double red flags. They are on vacation and they want to have as much fun as possible, not realizing the cost of their actions. So it is with life. Even as everything seems perfect the enemy is always lurking, looking for ways to divert us from the will of God and ultimately draw you away into a trap of perpetual darkness.

The Word of God is filled with red flag warnings. If they are not heeded they will give the enemy an entry way into your life and soon things will begin to spin downwardly out of control.

Be vigilant in guarding your heart! Nothing in this life is worth trading for your relationship with Christ and the keys of your power, authority, peace and joy! Adam and Eve traded what God had provided, for a momentary thrill of sin and disobedience. It left them powerless, afraid, aware of their nakedness and distance from their Father.

Life without Jesus is like experiencing a tiny glimpse of hell here on earth. The choices we make on a daily basis have the potential to either draw us closer to God or to the enemy. As we make the conscious decision to chase after Jesus with passion, we must also remain vigilant to guard our hearts, be wise in choosing how we spend our time and to what we give our attention.

What are you feeding your heart and soul? Is it perversion, stress, defeat, pride, anger, unforgiveness, anxiety or the life changing Word of God!? Remain mindful of Jesus and may your choices edify Him and move you closer to His heart and the realization of His love!!!

Proverbs 4:23-26 (NKJV) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

Matthew 26:41 (NKJV) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.