Wednesday, July 22, 2009

What Color is Your Awareness?


The Navy Seals have a color code system to describe states of awareness.

White means you're in zombie mode. You're on autopilot, not even sure what you're thinking about. You might be walking on the street, but at the moment you don't know where you're walking and you're completely unaware of cars and people around you.

Yellow is somewhat alert. You know you're on a street and you're aware that there are cars going by you. You know you're on the sidewalk.

Red is hyper-alert state. You know the position and direction of every person around you. You're aware of the man who stopped by the streetlight and turned back to look at you. You know the color and model of the three cars that just passed you. You smell the barbecue joint half a block away. You feel the wind shift in your face.

Black? You kill anything that moves.

We agree, I'm sure, that you don't want to be in white or black state of awareness.

We tend to go through much of our daily lives with minimal awareness of what's going on around us.

The sad truth is that we go through much of our daily lives with minimal awareness of what God is doing in us, and around us.

We serve the Lord God who rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves (Colossians 1:13). We have been given life (John 5:21), a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), a renewed mind (Romans 12:2), the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7), and the promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:19-20).

These are tremendous truths! And yet, we're on autopilot much of the time, unaware of the Father who is always at work (John 5:17), our spiritual kinship with the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us (Hebrews 12:1), and perhaps missing good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

What should we do?

First, repent.

Second, ask the Lord for awareness of His presence, and to see people and situations the way He sees them.

Third, make efforts to be more aware - practice noticing details around you. When you catch yourself in a low state of awareness, take a moment and re-connect with Christ.

Fourth, let us help one another recognize and discern the ways of the Lord.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has called you to much, much more than zombie living! Open your eyes, dear saint, and see the evidence of your Loving Father's hand, all around you.

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