What could you do if you found yourself in the doldrums of complacency?  What should you do if you feel the cold of indifference creeping into your heart?  What would you do if I sang out of tune?  Would you stand up and walk out on me?  Stagnation can happen to any of us, if we aren't vigilant.  It usually begins when we tolerate something; we let it slide because we're battle-weary.  Then one day we look up and ask, "How did I get here?"

Wednesday evening, my pastor asked me if I was as strong a Christian when I first began to follow the Lord as I am today?  His question caused me to think back to a time when I would not have been happy with my answer to that question.  Having been there, I know that I never want to go back.  We have to remember that our "adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  He is ruthless, and will not spare even our children if they are left unguarded.  We must be "of sober spirit" and "on the alert" if we hope to defend against the attack (1 Peter 5:8).  

If you do realize that you are being lulled to sleep by complacency, then we must "remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first deeds" (Revelation 2:5a).  It's a miserable feeling to look in the mirror and wonder what happened to the child of God who used to be there, the one who ran to face the giant with a sling in his hand and joy in his heart.  "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" (Galatians 6:9).