Germs.

Small but strong. Unforeseen. A minute but mighty life-form that will wreck shop on our mental and physical daily to-do’s like a hurricane in Texas. I’m not making trying to be funny about that either – I’m being so serious.

Preventative care is our biggest defense. There are steps that we can take to help combat the infiltration of these tiny, microscopic pests on our complex, yet sometimes fragile system. But they are steps that we have to physically take.

Washing our hands-

And keeping them to ourselves.

Covering our mouth when we cough.

Taking vitamins.

Eating the right food.

Not sharing food or drink.

Rest.

Y’all already know what I’m about to say – isn’t it the same exact way with sin? It starts off tiny and makes its pesky way into our system. Before we know it there’s a full-fledge attack brewing. Once sin is there, once sin has figured out how to break through our shield of defense, it’s way harder to get rid of. Once it’s welcomed itself into its comfortable new home – that pesky little booger is ready to stay and campout for a while. Maybe even permanently.

But we have preventative strategies to stop sin as well, and boy do they work!

Talking to God.

Praying.

Praising.

Worshipping.

Staying in the word.

Prayer accountability partners.

Intentionality and focus.

Guys, instead of going about life all willy-nilly with the common, misconstrued mindset of “it can’t happen to me” I think it’s time we put these preventative strategies into place. It’s time to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to the things entering into our complex but fragile systems.

It’s time.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

⁃ Proverbs 4:23-27