AWARENESS: STANDING FIRM IN YOUR FAITH

November 6, 2024

Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19

1. BE ON THE ALERT. I am focusing on the idea of awareness. The word “awareness” means to have sharp discernment about something, where we are attentive and watchful. God wants us to be alert rather than apathetic. He wants us to be sharp rather than dull and focused rather than vague. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9a). This doesn’t mean being paranoid; it means being perceptive. Not anxious, but aware. We are called not to be ignorant of the devil’s schemes. We are invited to resist him.
 
2. STAY WATCHFUL. Recently, I was followed and cased by individuals on two separate occasions. Thankfully, I had my head up and wasn’t distracted by my phone. Both times, I intuitively looked them directly in the eye so they knew I was aware of them. Later, I spoke with an off-duty police officer who works security at our church. When I explained my situation, he said, “You did exactly what you needed to do.”
I asked him, “What was that?”
He explained, “You eliminated the element of surprise by letting them know you saw them. That’s a huge advantage—to be aware and make your enemy aware that you’re aware. Then they don’t get any lead time to take you by surprise.”
Practically and spiritually, be on the alert, be sober, and stay attentive. Trust God for discernment.
 
3. STAY FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT THINGS. One of the greatest ways to resist the devil is through awareness – by keeping our heads up, praying in the Spirit, and focusing on God’s Word. In practical terms, for safety, keep your head up and don’t just stare at your phone when walking or driving. Keep your eyes on what is most important. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Make straight paths for your feet and watch what the Lord will do for you.
 

PRAY THIS PRAYER:
God, I pray You help me to be of sober spirit and alert. I resist the devil, firm in my faith, and he must flee from me. I pray You show me what I need to know when I need to know it. I thank You for giving me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You and that the eyes of my understanding are opened. Keep me focused on the right things, and most importantly, help me to focus on Jesus 100%. In Jesus’ name, amen. (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7; Ephesians 1:17-18)
 

God bless you,
Pastor Jeff Perry 

a·ware, adj.
1. Having knowledge or discernment of something.
2. Attentive and well-informed.
3. Vigilant; watchful.

_{Copyright © 2024 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. “Awareness, Adj.” American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Harper Collins Publishers, 2022, https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=awareness&submit.x=20&submit.y=28.}