These Boots Were Made For Talking About

By: Deborah Lovett

"You must be on your guard." Mark 13:9

Satan does not want us to have a personal relationship with God and he will try to do whatever it takes to keep us from getting close to God. That is why these boots were made for talking about being on Guard!  Put on your cowgirl boots and get ready to learn how to give the devil the boot today!

As the day of the Lord comes closer, the evil forces around us will be increasing in order to cause doubt and fear, chaos and destruction. We all need to learn or refresh ourselves as to how to be on guard, and to look at temptation as exactly what it is: a ploy to keep our focus away from the Almighty God that brings peace, love, and joy.

Do you remember the story of Jesus sitting on the Mount of Olives, speaking with His disciples? “Watch out that no one deceives you,” He warned. “Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and (they) will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. YOU MUST BE ON YOUR GUARD.” (Mark 13:5-9, bold italics mine.)

It does not take much to notice that evil has increased all around us. Shootings are more and more common, Satanic churches are being built, cults are increasing, sexual predators are preying on our children through the Internet, nations war against nations and terrorism faces us daily as do many financial, relational and health concerns, not to mention the earthquakes, tsunamis, fires and floods. Satan is becoming bolder because he knows his time is shorter. What are we found guarding while the enemy is prowling around like a lion ready to devour?

We guard ourselves from the bugs outside with bug spray; from the sun with sunscreen; from poverty and expenses with insurance; from relationship problems with isolation; from authenticity with masks; and from intruders with high-tech security cameras and systems. We attempt to guard ourselves from criticism by trying to be perfect; from starvation with overindulgence; from illness with exercise; from boredom with prescription drugs or alcohol; from intimacy with distance; from the truth with lies. We have leaf guards on our outdoor gutters, armed guards at our malls, gas masks that guard us from biochemical warfare, iodine supplements from nuclear disaster and even guard dogs in our yards. Regardless of how important some of these may be to us, they should not be the focus and purpose of our lives.

Instead, our focus should be on guarding our relationship with Jesus. We need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. As I sought, I mined this promise from His gold nuggets found in Psalm 91:9-12:

"If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

I urge you to meditate and believe on this verse today. Trust in the Lord to see you through whatever it is you are going through, as He is a Mighty, Faithful God. If you find yourself nervously guarding "yourself," "your family," "your things," or even "your job" in these uncertain days--spend time on your relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then as you guard the time spent with Him-- He will guard your heart and mind with His peace.
Guard your relationship with God today. Focus, because with Jesus in the center of your world, not the hustle and bustle of 'things, status or looks.' by the light of His glory and grace, He will make straight your paths. Now aren't you glad these boots are talking about being on guard?