Anyone But MeSample

Prepared—The Evil Day

The dictionary defines a crisis as “a time of intense difficulty or danger; . . . a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.” While we may prepare ourselves mentally for such times, they tend to arrive unannounced, unexpected, and unplanned.

Because sin often starts with something seemingly innocent or at least not obvious, I ask in complete sincerity for you to search your soul for secret sin. What unlawful box is tempting you? Is the chink in your armor hidden pride, lust, or greed? To find yourself in crisis because of unchecked sin is a frightening place to be. I hope you’ll ask God to search your heart for sins both obvious and hidden. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of all sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

As we move towards integrity of mind and heart, we are told in Ephesians 6 to take up the whole armor of God. Doing so enables us not only to prepare for the evil day but also to stand. That means not only to stand our ground in battle but also to take ground and hold it. We are not to fall back. To lose zeal for the lost is to fall back. To allow fear have its way is to fall back. You must be prepared to be effective and to stand firm against the many evil days that Satan will orchestrate in your life.

If we want to be more than conquerors in Christ, we must have a strategy to disarm Satan. That’s what I call being prepared. Preparation is everything. I’m prepared for my own “evil day” so that I can help strangers prepare for theirs. Each person we encounter is in need of Christ. Because of this, they are also in need of you and me and our willingness to be prepared.

One of the best ways to prepare for evangelism is to make a habit of seeing sinners as saints. Look at every Saul of Tarsus as an apostle Paul and every prodigal as a restored son, clothed in the garment of righteousness. Faith can do that. Faith engages our heart to see our world as Christ would have us see. 

Prayer: Holy Father, prepare my heart to stand against temptation and fear, and evidence Your faithfulness by allowing me to see the perishing with a fervent love. In Jesus’s name, amen.