The word that I remember most from my army days is to be ready. It was drilled into you and I can still hear the staff sergeant roar across the parade ground: “Troops! I will throttle that civvie attitude out of you bit by bit to make space for readiness, because that’s what you need to survive in this army”.
And with toil and sweat, sometimes even blood, sweat and tears, the army got us ready. We were drilled and chased around the bushes. We learned to handle pressure and not to take your eye off the sight as the shots rang out around you. We were well prepared and ready at all times.
One part of being ready is that you’re always prepared, ready even at any time of night or day to do what is expected of you. Whether it is to pick up a wounded comrade who’s been shot and carrying him over your shoulder to the waiting helicopter, or whether it is to take the lead walking into unfamiliar territory not knowing what is waiting on you out there. Being ready makes you do it.
Being ready also means knowing what to do in every situation. But even more, it means your whole being is finely attuned to pick up any attack, any deviation from the norm. When you’re ready, you’re always prepared, all set and geared up for whatever comes your way.
In our lives today we need to be ready in many instances. We have to be prepared concerning our safety. Just before my devotional I checked my WhatsApp messages. One of my friends had sent a video of a woman putting her packages in her car. Two men come up to her, get into the car with her, and drive away. Terrible! We have to be so ready.
We have to be ready about our finances and make sure people aren’t deceiving us to get our money. We have to be ready at work, so that when retrenchments happen, those of us who are prepared are not included in the list. We must be ready in our relationships and make sure that the one with the dirty fingers is not going to come and mess everything up.
We have to be ready in our relationship with God as well and make sure that that same guy with his dirty fingers is not deceiving us here either. Not us or anybody else in our circle of influence.
We so easily become part of this world and our eyes become blinded to God’s awesome promise that we will be in heaven with Him one day. If we or anybody around us are going to stare at the lights of the world, we’ll become blind to that promise. We have to be ready. We have to know the enemy is coming. We have to be all set and geared up to withstand his devious plans.
Read this: 1For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified.
Be ready, so that you or someone close to you does not miss the bus!
Scripture
Hebrews 4:1-3
Reflection
Are you ready?
Do you expect the attacks?
How do you help others?
Prayer
Father, I know the attacks are coming. I feel it all the time and I know that sometimes I don’t make it. Please help me be ready. Help me to get up and help others who have lost the way. Amen.