I was born and raised in the deep south, where most of the days were sunny and warm. I moved to the north after graduating high school and had no idea the weather could change so quickly and drastically, at the drop of a dime. The winters are long, and the summers are short. This is completely different from what I’m used to, and it took me years to get comfortable with the weather patterns. The warmth of the south is indicative of the hospitable and warm nature of its citizens. The cold of the north, in some instances, seems to be a mirror reflection of the cold shoulder given to outsiders. It’s customary to wave and greet total strangers down south. When I first moved up north and did this, people looked at me as if I had two heads. I hadn’t realized how relaxed I was in my everyday environment until I shifted into a completely different climate and place.
1Peter 5:8(NLT) tells us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” This verse reminds me how quickly things can change and how easy it is for the enemy to catch us off guard when we’re not prepared for it. My antennas were down when I moved away from home. I didn’t know what to expect. Small town living compared very little to living in a large city. Everything was new, different, and quite scary. My guard was down. I had to learn how to be alert, and how to walk in wisdom, but not lose the warmth and kindness that should be anchored in anyone who loves God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Through Peter, God warns us not to walk around blindly through life, but to be alert because the devil is actively trying to destroy us. We may not want to fight him, but the enemy certainly wants to fight us, and tries to do so on many fronts. We have to be firmly anchored in God’s Word, so that we can know what the enemy is up to. It’s not something we have to do alone. God promises to be with us wherever we go and in whatever we do. But we also must be watchful of those areas of our lives where we’re not walking in God’s love, because these are the openings that the enemy seeks.
In Luke 21:34-36(MSG), Jesus Christ also warned us about being on guard. He said, “34-36 “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.”
It’s our responsibility to seek out and deal with areas in our lives where we need to respond to God’s call with greater diligence, alertness, and love. Maybe it’s on our jobs, in our relationships or how we handle our finances. It all starts with recognizing the areas where we’re not so strong and allowing the Holy Spirit to help us.
Ephesians 2:10(NLT) says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” God predestined us to be in Christ so that we can accomplish the good things He planned for us. We’re His masterpieces, but this doesn’t mean that everything in life will be gravy. Life can change as quickly as New England weather, and we need to be vigilant and alert. You might be dealing with a situation in your life right now that completely caught you by surprise. Although it may be challenging to see beyond the discomfort you’re experiencing, know that God is with you. He’s building flexibility in your inner being so that you’re not overcome by storms, but you’ll have greater patience, faith, and endurance. Let the Lord strengthen you in this season, then you won’t be tricked out of your blessing, and you can go higher in the good work He’s planned for you from the very beginning.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“When Everything Isn’t Gravy ” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.