Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.  1 Peter 5:8-9 HCSB

Many people are talking about what a disaster the year 2020 has been. We’ve had COVID-19, hurricanes, raging fires, earthquakes in states that have never had earthquakes, mass rioting and the list goes on. Our television stations are broadcasting things like, “We are all in this together.”

I recently read an article concerning the climate change which is being blamed for some of these things. It is predicted that a few years from now things will be so bad, we will look back on 2020 as the good old days. I also read there is a new strain of COVID coming out which will be much more contagious. Does this mean you will be able to catch it from someone in a passing car?

Our future is not looking good, my friend. I wish I had better news, but as for the conditions of this world, it’s just not looking good. This is why now, more than ever, it is important that we pay close attention. It is important that we not let our guards down. We must not fall prey to the devil and his schemes during these difficult times.

One thing the devil uses is distraction techniques. With all that is going on in our world today it is easy to become distracted. It is easy to neglect to attend church. It’s easy forget to study our Bible or pray continually. But we have never needed to dig in deeper with our relationship with the Lord than right now.

We need to focus on God and trust in Him to take care of us through all the turmoil that exists today. Now is the time for us to come together as a nation and humble ourselves and seek the Lord and pray to Him to remove our sin and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). It’s so easy to get caught up in storm preparations or safety precautions with COVID and use this as our excuse to distance ourselves from God. We are too busy to attend services (even if they are online), too busy to pray, too busy to study our bible and so we drift further away.

My friend, there has never been a time I can recall in all my years that we have faced so many troubles. We need Him now more than ever. This old world and all the troubles in it will pass away, but God is forever. The world if full of trouble, but He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He wants us to live in glory with Him throughout eternity. This is why we must pay attention. We must be alert.

I beg of you today to not fall prey to the devil and his distraction techniques. There is nothing you could be doing in this day and age that is more important that strengthening your relationship with your Lord and Savior. Draw close to Him and allow Him to see you through these difficult times. Focus on Him and He will take care of the rest (Matthew 6:33). Pay attention to Him and remember He’s got this.

Have a great day!