Alert

1 Peter 1:13 TPT Prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you.

If you have ever been to the zoo, you have seen them... standing on their hind legs, alert to danger but frozen still, sniffing the air to find any potential threat. They are the meerkats: alert, standing tall as sentinels, a watchman for their tribe. Repeatedly God commands us to be like the meerkat, alert, on guard, and watchful. It is a critical attribute in the life of a Christ-follower.

We are repeatedly called to live with spiritual awareness: alert in prayer (Colossians 4:2), on guard against the schemes of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8), watchful for the return of Jesus (Mark 13:35-37), and alert for false prophets/teachers (Matthew 7:15). It requires a conscious effort to stay alert to the spiritual realities around us while not being deceived or lulled into complacency. By being spiritually awake, we can discern the signs of the times and intercede effectively in prayer. Being alert enables us to pray as the Holy Spirit leads, aligning our prayers with God’s purposes.

Being alert also means staying spiritually awake and aware of God’s presence and guidance. It involves being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and discerning truth from falsehood. When we are alert, we can resist temptation and protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. Being alert to discern the signs of the times and remain rooted in God’s Word. By doing so, we can navigate through the challenges and complexities of life with wisdom, discernment, and steadfast faith.

Not many of us would consider 300 against 135,000 a fair fight, but God did. In Judges, Chapters 6-8, we are told the story of Gideon, his fight against the Midianite army, and God’s approach to battle. Gideon raised an army of 22,000 Israelites to battle the Midianite army of 135,000. But God was concerned the Israelites would take credit for the victory, so 12,000 fearful men were sent home. But even an army of 10,000 Israelites was too large for God. He instructed Gideon to take the men to the water, and only those who lapped the water like a dog would be kept to fight. Two things disqualified men from making the final cut: fear and being unaware. God was looking for fearless men who were fully alert, and only three hundred made the cut. Numbers did not matter. It was the condition of their heart that set them apart for His service.

Prayer keeps us alert and focused on the Spirit’s leading, enabling us to effectively engage in spiritual life. Being alert in prayer means being sensitive to the needs of others and interceding on their behalf. It involves seeking God’s guidance and wisdom in all situations, surrendering our agendas, and aligning our prayers with His perfect will. Being alert, on guard, watchful, vigilant, and exercising self-control, eliminating distractions.

Paul implored Timothy to stay alert. In 2 Timothy 2:4, “For every soldier called to active duty must keep himself free from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him.” The world can easily distract us from our true calling and purpose, from being the husband or wife our spouse needs, the mother or father our children need, and being the man or woman of godly character the world desperately needs to see.

In Revelation 3, God spoke to the Church at Sardis and had this complaint against them: “you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up!” It is time to be alert, fellow believers.  

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Ephesians 6:18 NIV And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Mark 13:35-37 TPT So I say to you, keep awake and alert—for you have no idea when the master of the house will return; in the evening, at midnight, at four o’clock in the morning, or at dawn. Be alert, for he’s coming suddenly and may find you sleeping! And what I say to the four of you, I say to everyone—be alert at all times!

1 John 5:14-15 NIV This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NASB Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. All that you do must be done in love.

Colossians 4:2 GNT Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.

Acts 20:29-31 NASB I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be on the alert.

Luke 21:36 NASB But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all the things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Mark 14:38 TPT Keep alert and pray that you’ll be spared from this time of testing. For your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak.

Mark 13:5 NASB And Jesus began to say to them, See to it that no one misleads you.

Revelation 3:1-2 NASB To the Church at Sardis: I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead. Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.

Joshua 23:11 AMP So be very careful and watchful of yourselves to love the Lord your God.

Hebrews 2:1 NLT So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

Romans 16:17-18 NLT And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

Luke 12:15 TPT Speaking to the people, Jesus continued, Be alert and guard your heart from greed and from always wishing for what you don’t have. For your life can never be measured by the amount of things you possess.

Luke 17:3 NLT Be alert and watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 NLT So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.