![]() We'll refuse to take offense and instead, forgive. So when an offense comes, we immediately decide, "I know what that is," and purposely decide not to step on it. When we encounter thorns, if we are living carefully, we recognize what they are and resist them. For example, have you been offended recently? If so, that was a thorn. But those who aren't careful about how they live are vulnerable to his attacks. Now, the devil can't devour just anyone he wants to. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." In 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP), the Bible says to "be sober, be alert and cautious at all times. We need to be aware that we have an enemy who is trying to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). ![]() You'd be very careful where you step, constantly watching where you walk. ![]() A good word picture for this definition would be a person walking barefoot in a field of thorns. The next thing Paul says is "Look carefully then how you walk!" The Greek word for "carefully" here means to walk circumspectly, looking around you all the time as if you were in a very dangerous place. I often say we don't need more "wishbone," we need more backbone! But we don't reach our goals just by wishing they would be fulfilled. It's easy to sit around, waiting for something to happen to you, wishing you were happier, more disciplined, in better shape, more successful, and so on. Notice that he says "Awake, O sleeper." Sometimes we find ourselves just going through life and we've lost our excitement about God and His purpose for us because we aren't living life on purpose. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is" (AMPC). Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time, because the days are evil. "…Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. In Ephesians 5:14-17, the apostle Paul addresses this issue with born-again believers in the church. It's time for us to take our lives back and stop letting everything around us dictate what we are going to do each day! We need to learn how to live our lives on purpose and invest our time and energy in the plans God is calling us to accomplish. I believe this happens to many people because they are letting their circumstances seize them, allowing the many interruptions that come up take over their day. So I ended up with a lot of loose ends and felt overwhelmed by everything that needed to be done. But there was a time recently when I found myself struggling to finish things that I started because I was getting distracted by other things that needed to be accomplished as well. I'm usually a very goal-oriented person and can stay focused on the things I really want to do. Have you ever had one of those days when you were busy all day long but when you got to the end of it, you found you hadn't accomplished anything that you wanted or needed to do? It's so frustrating when this happens.
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