Keep Alert

Today I had a new front tyre fitted to my motorcycle. As I paid for it, and was heading out to ride the bike home, the service technician reminded me to be watchful and careful as the new tyre still had a protective coating that had to be worn off before the tyre attained its optimum grip.

While the new tyre made the bike surprisingly more manoeuvrable, I was still very cautious as I travelled the 80 kilometres home. I was even more alert to the possibility of water or oil on the road, as well as taking care to corner at a slower speed than usual.

In Ephesians 6 the Apostle Paul is urging disciples of Jesus to be prayerfully alert to what is going on around us, both in the physical and the spiritual realms. He urges us to be strong in the Lord and to take up the spiritual armour to stand against the malevolent spiritual forces which are all about us – seeking to cause us to lose spiritual traction and crash. Praying keeps us in constant touch with God so that we can ask for His insight into what is happening around us, and to intercede for others in their circumstances.

Being alert, or watchful, means not to be complacent – no sleeping on the job – but to be always seeking to be open to: i) what God is doing; ii) what the enemy is trying to do; and iii) how the Lord would want me to respond to what is happening.

Riding home today I was particularly alert to the road conditions, weather conditions, traffic movements. I was watchful of the bike's steering and handling dynamics. I was ready to take any appropriate action immediately if the need arose.

I was prompted to reflect on how aware I am of what is really going on in my world. Am I alert to the spiritual realities underlying the physical events and movements in the nations, in the environment, in business and the media? Am I watchful over my family and friends? What about my own life – my thoughts, words and actions? Are my prayers informed by this alertness? What about you?

Prayer: Father God, I pray that You might help me to be aware of what is happening around me, so that I might be alert and watchful – and thus more effective in my praying and living. In Jesus’ name, Amen.