Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:8-11
Dear God, I was having my weekly phone call with a friend yesterday morning and I told him I had been pretty inconsistent with you this week. I have not been “alert and sober of mind.” I haven’t been “stand[ing] firm in the faith.” I kind of took you for granted this week. Frankly, I spent a lot more time thinking about college football than I spent thinking about you. Why? No good answer. I guess the truth is, I found it more interesting.
I am simply nothing without you. When will I really get that through my head? Without you there is no peace. There is no joy. Without you I am a selfish, fearful, needy, insecure, foolish man. But with you I can truly love others because you love me so much. With you I can see above the cares of this world and be at peace in you. You’re amazing. You are GOD!! Why did I find college football more interesting than you this week? Frankly, probably because it plays to my vanities and resentments. Hmm. I’ve never thought of that before. That’s a thought to ponder (as I watch my team play this afternoon).
Father, in this moment, I want to be alert and sober of mind. I want to stand firm in my faith. I know I cannot live up to that. I know that I will follow selfish desires and let them consume me at some point. Help me to see that those moments are fewer and farther between as you work on me and I learn to stay alert and stand firm.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 