Keep Awake

Luke 21:36 AMPC

Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

The only sane way to look at the world today is through the lens of Scripture.

Watching the news without that perspective will suck you into a vortex of doom and gloom laced with fear - a pretty toxic cocktail to ingest and poison your soul.

Watch and pray

Jesus warned of these dangerous and terrifying days - look in detail at Matthew 24 and Luke 21 - so, we shouldn't be surprised at what's happening globally and, especially, to Israel.

The crucial issue in these days is to wake up and stay awake.

Look at Bible prophecy and then look at world events - be alert to the be signs of the times.

With many deceptions and distractions, the temptation is to close our eyes and go to spiritual sleep. The problems are too many and too great - prayers seem ineffective in the face of such huge events! What use is it to try?

That is Satan's best tactic - to wear us out with many pressing trials and troubles that we don't know how or what to pray.

Our best weapon is prayer - especially when times are tough - even if we feel ever so small, our God uses such as this. Our weakness shows up His power.

"All we can do is pray"... a saying used as a last resort... no, no, it must be our first resort - putting everything into God's Hands.

The church at Sardis was counseled by Jesus to wake up...but it didn't listen:

Revelation 3:2-3 AMPC

Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight. [3] So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come.

The ancient city of Sardis, mentioned in the Book of Revelation, is now an archaeological site in modern-day Turkey, near the town of Sart. The city, once a thriving commercial and military centre, is in ruins today, a fitting reflection of the "dead" church described in Revelation.

Look at the church in our country, is it awake? What about the "Defender of the Faith" who swore on the Bible at his coronation to defend the Christian faith?

Lord God, in these treacherous times keep me spiritually awake and praying Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on the earth as it is in Heaven.