Readiness As a Way of Living

My First paragraph with bold text.

Day 7  Readiness as a Way of Living 

Mark 13: 33-37 CEB  Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!” 

   I love a good plan. Nothing makes me happier than having a plan in place, so I know exactly what is going to happen, every day, every event - I need a plan! Knowing this about myself, I was surprised when I stepped back and took a look at the plans - or lack thereof - in my personal life. For instance, I never have a plan for dinner. I have 3 children and every single day I am surprised I need to feed them. Does cereal count? This deep dive into my personal life also led me to realize I have no plan for myself spiritually. There is no Bible reading plan, devotionals outlined for the month or curriculum that I follow. In my children’s lives and for the children of the church – I plan that out…but I never do for myself, stumbling instead upon whatever is available and closest when needed. 

Jesus’ words in this passage are not cryptic—they’re a clear, urgent call: Stay alert. We often live as though tomorrow is promised, as if we have unlimited time to “get serious” about God later. But Jesus turns that logic upside down. He says the timing of His return is not for us to know, our job is to be faithful now. 

This doesn’t mean living in fear or panic. It means living with intention. Staying spiritually alert is about recognizing that our daily lives, our work, conversations, habits, are all part of a greater mission. We are the servants left in charge of the house. We’ve been entrusted with the gospel, with grace, with love, and each of us has a role to play in God's story. The greatest danger isn’t missing the plan, it’s growing dull, distracted, or indifferent.  

   Reflect: So, I ask you, what habits have you created in your life to stay spiritually alert? What work has God entrusted to you right now…and…are you actually doing it? 

Prayer: Dear God, help me to stay alert—not just physically, but spiritually. Guard my heart from complacency, distraction, and the false sense that there’s always more time. Give me a watchful spirit, ready to respond to Your voice and to be faithful with the work You’ve given me. Amen. 

  Jenn Brown  Director of Family Ministries