“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.” Luke 21:34
n the mist of all that’s going on around us, it’s wise to pay attention to who we are as individuals. Be conscious of the thoughts that flow through our minds. Are they filled with judgment of others as well as ourself or understanding? Also, monitoring our responses to unfavorable encounters is prudent. Are we easily offended or do we quickly forgive? Normally, are our words encouraging or sarcastic? In I Peter 5:8, the verse provides the explanation why to be alert of one’s inner and outer workings. The devil is searching for those who are distracted in order to destroy them.
If we are not in tune with who we are, Luke 21:34 teaches that we in danger our hearts to become dysfunctional as a result of the following defeating behaviors
- Excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
- Intoxication – overindulgent of anything the alters one’s normal expression and reduces one’s capacity to be rational
- Weighted down by concern to the point of being anxious
When we are not watchful, all of a sudden, we fall prey to the tactics and the deceits of the devil.
Offensive strategics in the pursuit of being watchful of oneself entail:
* Making time to spend time with God throughout the day for guidance and empowerment
* Be careful not to overextend ourselves
* Don’t ignore yourself
* Be kind to yourself as while as others
* Deal immediately with uncomfortable issues that can turn into a crisis
By God’s grace, we can be successful in watching ourselves, our thoughts, our behavior, and our words.
CAPSULE OF NURTURE “Be vigilant concerning you, else you’ll wonder off from the presence of God”_ASA
Chronicles of ASA 