Reaction and recovery are far less effective at preserving position, life and treasure than appropriate readiness.  As Christians we are called to preparation, practical understanding and consciousness.  The world would have us depend upon leaders and reactivity or roles of victimization to sponsor the pillars of a well constructed life.  We have been told to be ready, to give a defense of our faith, overcome the enemy through testimony, keeping our minds alert and watchful for signs of the Lord’s Return for the Church.  What then are we collectively doing in the church to make appropriate readiness for all the anticipated circumstances?

We know that we have a highly spiritual enemy, wandering around attempting to steal, kill and destroy.  This is an enemy who battles in the realm of the mind, using the lost and those not in right standing with God to delay, paralyze or completely eliminate our effective performance as conduits for the Lord’s intention.  What then are we doing in the church to prepare “all” parishioners for this battle that each of us “face” everyday?

Sin is a thing of the mind, Christ Himself telling us that the sin of adultery is actually committed when the sensory vision and thought interact to “covet” your neighbor’s wife.  There is no sin that ever happened having not been proceeded by thought, however momentary.  What then are we doing at the churches to prepare the minds of “all” parishioners to confront the practical application of surrendering their thoughts to the Holy Spirit in desire to prohibit the subsequent action of sin?

What makes the enemy flee?  The Word of God spoken in faith by believers.  Christ showed us this example, while in the desert, forcing the enemy to flee by speaking the Word of God.  How then are we preparing “all” parishioners for the “inevitable and guaranteed” meetings they will have with the enemy in their own desert of temptation?  How many are trained by leaders to recognize enemy presence and immediately employ the appropriate defense of speaking God’s Word to make the enemy flee?

This being the Truth, how then are we satisfied in our current church structure dedicated to a reactive or recovery stance?  We are going to be attacked, assaulted and assailed by God’s enemy.  Knowing that reacting after the damage is done is statistically exponentially less effective than being ready to employ adequate defense, why then are we apparently dedicated to a reactionary church body?

I am thoroughly befuddled and exhausted with/by my capacity to react and whine about circumstances, especially those for which I should have had reasonable expectation of their occurrence.  We are warriors, princes and priests, supposed to stand in good courage on the field of battle fully preparing our hearts, minds and bodies to see the Lord overcome.  If I know, with reasonable certainty that I will face certain struggles either within my family, my work or my spiritual walk then it is utterly unacceptable to go into those struggles without first defining them and then preparing adequate defense at least against their inevitable or likely occurrence.  For example if I know that there is outstanding sin  in my marriage, it is absolutely reasonable to assume that at some point in the future, the enemy will utilize that foothold to bring struggle into my or my wife’s life.  Both ignoring it, in hope that it will simply disappear or simply remaining unconscious of the circumstance lead to the same reactionary episode and lead to my action/inaction to deal with the repercussions of the incident.  Neither method acknowledges the presence of the Holy Spirit of God in my life.

Should I then as a soldier, an intercessory prayer warrior make a list of those events/struggles that have some level of anticipation?  Or better yet should I venture into prayer with my partners and ask God for some manner of insight into the circumstances for which I should have some reasonable expectation of occurrence?  Then once having made a list of those events, praying in preparation, studying in preparation and remaining conscious upon the watchtower in the mode of proactive Christianity to which I believe Christ calls us?  Must I remain a child in my faith and react to every situation as a victim or shall I embrace victory in the knowledge that I may behave like Christ in the midst of those predictable events and depend upon God for the miracle in the events that are beyond expectation?  I am tired of behaving and showing the world me when they really want to see Christ.  Forgive me Lord and let me begin to reflect your heart and spirit.

We were told by God to be ready.  We are not ready.  What is the definition of disobedience?  What is the definition of foolishness?  What is the definition of playing the victim?  After conviction change must ensue.  Are we willing to confront the nature of collective change so that we become consciously focused upon the readiness to which we’ve been directed?  We shall see or we shall remain asleep.  Again as with all Christianity it is about choice.  Which choice will you make?