Situational Awareness

23 Jun Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness

June 22, 2025

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36

Now more than ever, we must stay focused and pay attention to everything: family, job, the times and the seasons, what, when, where, and not be found at ease in Zion.

At ease is a command most often heard in the military. It informs the soldiers on duty or in a formal setting that they can relax. But in that military environment, they must still maintain a level of “situational awareness,” and that “at ease” position is posture, not a completely relaxed state. They may take their hat off, loosen their collar, and have a casual conversation. Still, they are entirely aware of the subtleties of the environment around them day and night and are so disciplined that the command “Attention” will get a soldier back in line in a heartbeat.

New Level of Attention Required

A sense that God is calling us to a new level of attention.  1 Thessalonians 5:2-9 says “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. … 1 Thessalonians 5:2-9

Kendra Cherry MSEd says in her article “What Attention Means in Psychology.”

“Attention lets us focus on what’s relevant and tune out what’s not. We use attention to learn more about our environment, form memories, and perform tasks. However, not all types of attention are the same:

• Sustained attention allows us to focus for long periods while alternating attention allows us to switch between tasks.
• Selective attention allows us to choose what we want to attend to
• Focused attention helps us notice stimuli that require an immediate response.”

Jesus said it this way: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. … Luke 12:35-48

Just a few things to help keep your attention on track

• Let God be the first person you say good morning to each day. Matthew 6:33
• Always submit yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow his instructions.
• Keep your spiritual life tight. Do your devotion, pray, fast, and stay in the Word
• Stop operating on past stored information or actions on how to do things. God may have a new way to approach an old or new situation.  Jeremiah 33:3
• Recognize and avoid distraction.
• Get organized, Plan well and use a planner, calendar to schedule task.
• Have an accountability person(s)
• Pay attention to the details. It is the little foxes that spoil the vine.  Song of Solomon 2:15
• Remember, delayed obedience is disobedience.
• Take care of yourself by getting the required amount of rest, exercising, and eating right.
• Set up boundaries around access to you and your time.  If God says to drop a person, place, or thing, do it without hesitation.
• Watch your mouth; be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19

Attention is essential for all areas of our lives; take some time and see where you can improve your attention and focus.  

Finally, this was not an Evangelism message, but as the title and the opening scriptures suggest, we must understand where we are in our walk with God. There has been an urgent desire to ask people where they believe they will spend eternity.  Jesus is coming soon, and as the Word in 2 Peter 3:9 CEV says,” The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.” Tell people about Jesus the way the truth and the light!

Theresa Woodard