Have you ever been startled by the sound of an alarm? I have…many times! When the memory of a disturbing alarm I wrote about in a story four years ago popped up on my computer, my heart stirred to share it again, ‘for such a time as this’ when alarming signs are prevalent and prayers are needed.

An alarm signals something is wrong and sends a warning to whomever is listening. I was listening a few years ago in the early morning hours as I walked fast and prayed loud. As I write, memories of slipping out of bed without waking my husband and kneeling to pray before beginning my day surface. Often, I would remain on my knees and watch James sleep with a heart filled love and gratitude for Tim and him. Sometimes, I climbed back in bed and cuddled up close, loving every minute we shared in one another’s arms before the alarm sounded and a new day began.

One morning as I walked and talked to Jesus, singing in the spirit spewed from my heart. James came rushing downstairs to see if I was okay. Recognizing what was happening, he never said a word but headed back upstairs to dress for work. Every morning we wrote names in our prayer journal and prayed together. Those are the treasured times I miss most. Cherish your loved one; cuddle up close, and take time to pray together first thing each morning. Communicate, love passionately, and enjoy every day, for one day will be your last one together here.

Alluding to a morning when my walking and talking with Jesus escalated, singing and speaking in the spirit spewed forth and filled my home with a peace beyond all understanding.

Pressing the forward lever on my treadmill, I was going full speed ahead when the shrill sounds of an alarm ripped through the air. What is happening, I thought? Realizing my home alarm was screaming, I ran upstairs to stop it. My phone rang, increasing the intensity of my alarming experience. Have alarms distressed you also? Answering my phone, a lady from the Control Center was calling to check on me. Assuring her it was a false alarm, we started talking and this story stirred. She inquired why the alarm went off. I told her she wouldn’t believe it but it happened while I was praying. She did believe it and before we said good-bye, we shared sweet Christian fellowship and strong concerns for alarming times throughout our world.

Dressing for work, my mind kept replaying the alarm sounding while I was walking and praying. The disturbing distress signal sounded an alarm that should be heard across our nation. Weeks of walking with images of The Trojan Horse replaying in my mind stirred the urgency to sound alarms in perilous times. The enemy secretly hid inside a gift (The Trojan Horse) that was pulled inside the wall built to protect the people. As the people rejoiced, believing the enemy had sailed away, they partied and played. Being caught off guard in the middle of the night, the enemy opened the secret door and devoured the people. The alarm sounded but they were not paying attention. Ironically, a people puffed up with pride were defeated when the enemy slipped inside and a nation died.

Is God sending signs and sounding the alarm for His children to prepare and pay attention to the enemy (Satan) that lurks within? Alarming things are happening throughout our land but the enemy has no power when we stand strong with God, our provider and protector! Keeping God first – as the center of our lives, honoring His Word, and powerful praying from humbled hearts can bring miracles from the messes from sea to shining sea. Alarms are sounding daily as we go along our merry way. The enemy lurks within, seeking to destroy hearts, homes, and hope in every corner of our home sweet home where God was proclaimed in the beginning to be our cornerstone. Now is the time for unity, while living the reality of Lincoln’s warning and God’s Word, “ a house divided against itself cannot stand”. “For such a time as this”… let us seek the Savior who loved us so much that He came to earth to die for our sins, get right with Him, forgive one another, be truthful, pray for one another instead of prompting division, and pay attention to the signs from within that can make all the difference in the end.

Are we listening…are we sure we’re listening! The alarm is sounding. Let us stay closely connected to Christ and be prepared to meet our Master at any moment. Jesus is coming soon – morning or night or noon!

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By Becky Spell Vann

Contributing columnist

Becky Spell Vann is the owner and operator of Tim’s Gift and The Learning Station.