It is crucial to remember that we face potential risks in our everyday lives, even if we are not always aware of them. For instance, just two weeks ago, one of my friends got into a car accident. Thankfully, they were not severely injured. This is a prime example of how danger can arise suddenly and without warning, therefore we must be alert at all times. Furthermore, the dangers we face become more mundane and less noticeable as we get used to them and they become part of our daily routine.

For this reason, I am grateful to God for sending His angels to protect us, His Holy Spirit to guide us, and people and Jesus to pray and intercede for us (James 5:14-16, Romans 8:34). These things protect us from many dangers and act as a bubble around us, forming a penetrable protective shield.

Another way we can look at this is that God bulletproofs us from danger. It is important to note the choice of words, specifically the word ‘bulletproof’. It does not imply that the enemy will not be present to attack, nor does it mean that he will not shoot, or that the bullet will not make contact. It means that God will protect us from the harm that the bullet may cause us.

By now, I am sure you get the point I am trying to make. Basically, we don’t have to be concerned about certain dangers around us because God Has us covered. However, there are dangers that we need to be cognizant of and guard against. For instance, the scripture says that we have to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and I would even go as far as to say we have to guard our minds. The guarding of our hearts is something that God has instructed us to do. He did not say He would do it for us! Therefore, vigilance in this area is squarely on our shoulders, and it should be taken seriously.

There are some things God needs to do, and some things we need to do. So, this blog is centred around some of the dangers we must guard against, and they are as follows:

1. FOCUSING ON YOUR LACK

The story of Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden teaches us a valuable lesson. They had all they needed – a beautiful and splendid garden, dominion over everything, and the privilege of communing with God face to face. They had everything to choose from and everything not to choose from (tree of good and evil); therefore, they truly had abundance.

However, in their abundance, they focused on the one thing that was in their reach but should not be in their grasp. They put all their attention on the thing that should be off-limits.  

In our abundance, we love to focus on what we don’t have, cannot have, or should not have at that point in time. Instead of enjoying and maximising what is in front of us, in our ignorance we seek out what we think might benefit us.

There are so many people who are unsettled and unhappy because they want more income, a life partner for companionship, a house, a new car, and the list goes on. Are all these things good? Most definitely! Should you desire them? I say yes! Does God want to give you them? Yes, God does, but do you know who wants to give them also? The Devil!

The only difference between God-giving and the devil-giving is the outcome, as the latter leads to destruction. The devil wants to give you the wrong spouse, wrong job, etc. So, the lack we seek after will be filled, but we cannot let the wrong being (devil) fill it with inappropriate things or at inappropriate times (A good thing given at the wrong time can be dangerous). Therefore, patience and prayerful requests must be our guide to avoid the devil using our temporary lack against us.

2. NOT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT.

Do you know what causes a lot of unhappiness within us? Basically, “not getting what we want”. Think about that for a minute. We want a better job, but our company is not giving us the promotion, so we get upset. We want our children to be more academic at school, but they seem lackadaisical. We want our spouses to change, but they seem to be unchanging. We want this, and we want that, but what about what God wants for our life, what about His will? (You can take a look at this blog – The Will of the Father).

Let me do a reality check; we will not always get what we want, so stop acting like a spoiled brat. You and I getting what we want, when we want it, is dangerous because it removes the perfect will of God from our lives. It removes the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) from doing His work i.e. finishing us. God uses His giving and His withholding for one purpose. That purpose is to form Christ more in us. God intends to have the traits of His Son (Jesus), living in His sons (Us). No wonder He is the Great Potter, He uses events to model and shape us.

Now, allow me to share what I do when something does not go according to plan in my life and my relationship with God is good. I ask myself, “Dane, what is it you wanted?” Upon realising something different happened, I say to myself, “I wouldn’t always get what I want”. I understand that God has allowed it to happen in my life at this time”, even if it may not be pleasant. God has allowed it so that I may grow more in Christlikeness. In essence, it has happened so that Christ be more formed in me.

Be careful my friends because it is dangerous to always get what we want. Learn to trust your Heavenly Father. Sometimes we have to stand still and let life flow through us as opposed to fighting it. For things were ordained before time to happen and they were ordained to take place for our good!

3. DWELLING ON THE PAST

Now, this is something that I struggle with sometimes. I might do something wrong and wonder how do I move on with God. I forget His abundance of grace and mercy, and He forgives seventy times seven. Or I would dwell on bad decisions and reflect on what could have, or should have happened. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

This kind of dwelling in the past thinking will always keep us stagnant. After falling or making a bad decision, we must learn to pick ourselves up and press forward. No man can effectively walk forward by only looking backwards.

God’s word instructs us to forget the things that are behind us and focus on moving forward by embracing the present (Philippians 3:13). The two essential words here are “forgetting” and “pressing,” and they must work in unison. Our past experiences are valuable lessons that we can use in the present. However, constantly dwelling on the negative aspects of the past is unproductive. It’s important to learn from the past but not to stay stuck in it. The present moment is where the real opportunities for victory and success lie.

Learn to let go of the past, learn I say, learn.! Remembering we cannot learn without practice, repetition, effort, focus and someone tutoring us (Holy Spirit, Elders, Friends, books, etc).

CONCLUSION.

I wrote the blog to be concise and straightforward. While I would have preferred to delve deeper into each point or even create a blog series on the topic, brevity won the day. I want to emphasize that the 3 things mentioned can be harmful and hinder our growth as believers. I encourage us to reflect on them and share in the comments section any other practices that you believe are dangerous for us to adopt.

PS: Dane Miller was last seen talking to himself and deeply thinking about other dangers he should be aware of.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller | Authored Book – “God is the Author, I am the Pen.”

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