Courageous by Dr. Robert JeffressUzorak

Gain Situational Awareness 

Hanging in the Granite Mountain Hotshots’ ready room in Prescott, AZ stood the sign, “How is your situational awareness today?” Superintendent Eric Marsh asked that of his men and himself before leading his crew to fight a 300 acre ridge fire that seemed fairly routine. However, the fire’s unpredictable course and intensity eventually surrounded and trapped Marsh and his men. All 14 tragically perished. Marsh was too good a wildland firefighter to have led his team into this situation. Yet he did. 

This question is not just for wildfire fighters. Ask any disaster survivor or first responder, and they will tell you that as soon as your circumstances turn dangerous, the first thing you must do—after you’ve composed yourself and taken courage—is gain situational awareness. As quickly as possible, you must ascertain the truth about your circumstances.

Perhaps at no other time in history has there been a greater need to be aware of what is taking place around us. In order to correctly assess reality, we need wisdom.

First, to acquire wisdom, we must have the proper attitude toward God. In Proverbs 9:10, the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, reveals the foundation upon which a life of wisdom is built: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This proverb presumes two things: first, that God exists, and second, that He is the source of wisdom. To fear God means to have a healthy respect for God’s power and a reverence for God’s holiness that results in the reordering of our behavior.

Second, if we want to grow in wisdom, we must actively seek to acquire wisdom. For example, Proverbs 2:4–5 says, “If you seek her [wisdom] as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.” 

• Look for wisdom.
• Listen to those who are wise.
• Ask for wisdom.

Every day, we clash with a world system that is increasingly hostile to God, the corrupting temptations of our flesh, or the devil himself, who desires to derail us from our devotion to Jesus. At no point can we let down our guard. If we do, then like Eric Marsh and his Granite Mountain Hotshots, who were caught off guard by the approaching flames, we will be burned.

Have you ever asked God to give you wisdom? With an open heart, do so today.