“All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 AMP

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

A few months ago, I fell asleep behind the wheel while driving home from a day trip to visit my grandparents several hours away. I remember that evening very clearly. I got in the car at around 2 AM with my sisters, who were tagging along with me to DC in order to catch the bus the rest of the way to NYC. In the beginning, we had the music blaring, and we were talking and having a good ‘ole time for about three out of the four hours on the road. In the last hour, my eyes got really heavy, so I did everything to keep myself alert. I literally slapped myself, drank more caffeine, and played something more lively on the radio. It started to work and then I finally got to the bus station where I had to drop my sisters off. Now alone in the car, it was up to me to stay focused on my short trip home. “I can do this,” I thought to myself, as I only had about 20 minutes left. Tired of listening to music, I even turned off my radio and decided to ride in silence. A mere 5 minutes from home, my eyes popped open just as I was about to collide with a cement divider on the highway at about 60 mph. I veered back into my lane with only inches to spare. Needless to say, the adrenaline rush kept me up long after I got home. That had never happened to me before–ever. I didn’t understand how it happened this time. When I repeated this story to friends later, many of them pointed out something that I hadn’t considered before. Most accidents happen like this less than 10 minutes from the destination because the driver gets too relaxed, knowing that their ride is almost over. That struck an interesting cord with me, because that theory is applicable in so many areas of my life that it is kind of scary. After that near-miss situation, I was so  grateful to God for waking me up in just the nick of time, because I know there was no way I would have survived a crash like that. It made me pause to wonder why He even bothered to wake me. I brought that situation on myself. I should have slept longer or left earlier. Regardless of how dramatic I was being about this at the time, the truth remains that this isn’t the first time God has had to excuse my carelessness.  At one time or another, I have been guilty of falling asleep “behind the wheel” when it came to my quality time with God, and in so many other areas of my life. Just like the scenario with the car, I started out so well. I was doing everything right and had my focus on the right stuff. I got saved, started going to church more, went to bible study, built a gospel playlist on my iPod, joined a hundred ministries at church, started a blog, hung out with more Christians, attended Christian conferences, etc…even today, there are moments when I am really on the right track and very serious about my walk. But then, somewhere along the way, I just get comfortable. Somewhere on that “path of righteousness” comes a fork in the road and suddenly I have a decision to make. Sometimes, circumstances happen beyond my control. So what do I do when the church service is over, the music stops playing, or my friends aren’t there to hold me accountable? Do I press my way and connect with God at all costs or do I get so smug and cozy in my own human abilities that I end up falling asleep? Those choices are the difference between success and complete disaster. For me, “falling asleep” is missing bible study or no longer praying or having devotions everyday…I have even shut myself out from fellowship with other Christians. Eventually, I find myself traveling down a dark road in complete silence, having turned a deaf ear to what I know God wants me to do. And the inevitable happens every time. I nearly crash. But His mercy always shakes me back to reality just before it’s too late and I begin to focus again. But why do I continue this vicious cycle? How do I make it stop?

God has given us too much in this life that we don’t deserve, and He doesn’t require much from us in return. He just wants us to love Him and to stay focused on Him. Staying focused on Him can only be accomplished by keeping Christ at the center of everything we do and never allowing ourselves to think we have arrived at our destination before we have actually gotten there. Getting too comfortable can be deadly. The devil constantly preys on those he can catch off-guard, and his plan is always to kill, steal and destroy–period. Let this be a reminder that we must always keep watch and remain diligent in our pursuit of righteous living. Mistakes will happen, but they can happen a lot less often if we fight to maintain our focus.