“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (I Peter 4:12 ESV). Has anyone ever given you a heads up? If they have, how did it make you feel? Were you grateful? Did it put you at ease in knowing you can specifically pray, watch, prepare or plan for what was definitely going to happen before it actually happened? By given a heads up you may even prevent something from happening that was about to occur.

That’s what Jesus did regarding the fiery trial that are sure to come to test us. He gave a heads up, a warning, a notice to help prevent us from thinking something “strange” is happening to us. God wants us to be mindful to keep on standing in faith as if nothing peculiar is developing in our lives.  In order to be aware, we must be prayerful and watchful. Thank God for giving us a heads up when we are experiencing such trials.

I will keep on thanking God for giving me a heads up. I pray that when there is something strange going on in my life that it is there to test me and not to overtake me. I pray that we would not be surprised, amazed, or stunned to the point where we may be overcome. By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com