Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
The sanctified life is a vigilant life. To act with vigilance means to be alert. It means to be carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger. You have an adversary, and he is looking for someone to devour. But it does not have to be you. He is looking for prey, but you can be his master.
“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36.
Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life. Watch your thoughts and your words with all vigilance. Do not press on when I give you a check in your spirit that you should not be talking about what you are saying. Stop.
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3.
Today I want to talk with you about attacking the problem before it attacks you. In other words, living on the alert, on the offensive rather than the defensive. Watching your heart and life like a good gardener watches his garden, pulling out each weed as it appears rather than waiting until your entire garden is overgrown with them.
I tell you to watch carefully how you live, guarding your heart, and staying pure in evil days.
I want to stress to you how important it is to engage in vigilant living. Do not let things go. Keep My Word and stay on the watch. Never let down your guard because the devil is wandering around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He cannot just devour you, or he would have long ago, he can only take authority in your life if you let him in your heart and mind and then witness with him by speaking fear, bitterness, depression, and anger so that he gets a toehold, then a foothold and then a stronghold. Similar to the way weeds not pulled out of a garden plot eventually take over and choke off the good plants.
I give many examples of this in My Word. In My Song of Songs I tell you, My beloved ones, to catch the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, vineyards that are in bloom. Song of Songs 2:15. Do you know what little foxes do? They eat away at the good vines until they do not produce fruit. What are your little foxes? Allowing offense, pride, unforgiveness, complaining, anger, fear, greed, lying, depression and such emotions to dwell in your mind instead of rejecting them by speaking out My Word and promises over your life. They will stop you from blooming and being fruitful.
You find another example of how you should live in the book of Nehemiah when the Israelites return from captivity in Babylon to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Because of the presence of jealous enemies waiting to attack them and stop them from their work, the Israelites who carried building materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. Nehemiah 4:17-18. They were on the watch for the enemy while going forward in the work I had given them to do.
You find this testimony in Psalm 149 also; I direct those who love Me to rejoice in Me and sing praise with their mouths but to have a double-edged sword in their hands. Psalm 149: 6. You already know what the double-edged sword is from My Word. In the book of Hebrews I tell you that My Word is sharper than a two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. In Ephesians I tell you that My Word is the Sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17.
The only way to stay vigilant at all times is to keep My Word and stay on the watch. Watch of what? Yourself– your thoughts, what is in your heart, and what you are saying. And how are you able to discern whether your thoughts are dangerous ones that you should reject? Well, I tell you in My Word that My Word is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, and that it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, so that it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Applying My Word as the standard by which to discern your thoughts will reveal your intentions and attitudes. Reject what is contrary to My Word. Things that I tell you not to do, such as worrying, fretting, being anxious, dwelling on lustful thoughts; being cruel or sarcastic, and speaking negative things in fear and dread, must be rejected by you and eradicated by your speaking the opposite out loud– actually speaking My promise for the situation. Such as speaking My promises of healing, prosperity, victory, strength, and peace when you are tempted to give in to thoughts opposing those things. It is walking by faith and not by sight.
Be innocent as doves of evil, but be as clever as snakes at discerning and avoiding it. Be ready for every good word and work.
Think of Samson. By allowing himself to lust after women, and particularly women who belonged to his enemies, Samson lost his gifts and calling. His life was not fruitful or joyful as it could have been had he stopped his lust when it began rather than giving in to it and playing with it until it consumed his life.
Be discerning, operating in the Spiritual gifts, such as word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discernment of spirits. Rely on My Spirit within you to lead you, warn you of things to come and guide you to all truth. A vigilant person is a free person. One that does not get trapped or taken captive to do the will of the devil.
Do not be sluggish and sloppy. People who are do not inherit the promises. Make every moment count. Redeem the time, it goes very quickly. Rely on Me, lean on Me, and not on your own understanding. This life is only a test, faithful in little things I can trust you with greater. I can trust you with the Kingdom.
I tell you to be good stewards of the gifts I give you. Be busy when I return and not living in lazy, evil, fruitless deeds. I want to reward you as a good and faithful servant in this age and the next.
Keep watch on what I have given you. In Proverbs I counsel you to know the condition of your herds and your flocks. Do not let things go, clean up every day so you are not suddenly faced with a tremendous mess that you cannot seem to dig your way out of. Watch carefully how you live, not as a foolish person but as a wise one.
It comes down to living in wisdom. Walking wisely. Knowing the right thing to do at the right time. Ask Me for wisdom and I will give it to you. But you must ask without doubting, in faith that I have given it to you. Then proceed in confidence and let My Spirit lead you to what you are to do. Romans 8:14. And read My Word, there is wisdom in all My Words. Read them and meditate on them, speak them and do them, and you will prosper in all that you do. Joshua 1:8, James 1:22-26.
I gave you a wonderful mind, use it, but do not rely only on your own understanding– there is One who lives within you that knows all things and will open your mind to them. He is My Sprit.
All day long, pause before making decisions, and go inside to connect with My Spirit, and rely on Him to lead you. Do not rush to answer and do things.
Get skillful at contacting My Spirit within. The anointing will teach you all things.
Finally, think about this: You cannot conquer what you do not confront.
Think of My servant David and the giant warrior Goliath. While all the soldiers of the army of Israel hid and refused to confront Goliath, Goliath continued to harass and menace them and fill them with fear. They could not go forward, believing they would encounter failure, captivity and defeat. This probably would have been their lot if David had not stepped out and confronted the problem. But David knew not to confront the enemy in his own strength—in the natural he was no match for Goliath—but he went out with Me, went out in My strength because of My covenant with him, and called on Me to give him the strategy and the victory. I did. You must do the same. Do not retreat from your trials and inner problems but confront them clothed with My armor and with the Sword of the Spirit in your mouth. Ephesians 6:11-17. And I will crush Satan under your feet.
Desire and be aware of the Spirit of wisdom I make available to you within, then proceed in the way My Spirit leads you and I will enlighten you more and more as you go forward. You need My wisdom more than any money or material thing, because with wisdom comes all good things. Solomon found that out but in his later years he let down the guard on his heart and let in idols. And that had repercussions to this day. It divided a united kingdom and it never got back together again. Be careful how you live, it begins in you but it does not stop there.
I love you. Live vigilant. Guard you heart, in it are the issues of life.