"The next time alarms go off in your world, ask yourself three questions."

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, When God Whispers Your Name (p. 133). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Stop and think, is there an alarm going off in your world right now?  How are you handling it?  Are you ignoring it, or blaming others for it or are you asking what do I do?  If you're asking then Max says there are three questions for you.

He says, “1. Is there any unconfessed sin in my life?

“’There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. . . . My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them’ (Ps. 32:3–5 TLB).

“(Confession is telling God you did the thing he saw you do. He doesn’t need to hear it as much as you need to say it. Whether it’s too small to be mentioned or too big to be forgiven isn’t yours to decide. Your task is to be honest.)"

Max then says, “2. Are there any unresolved conflicts in my world?

“’If you enter a place of worship and, about to make an offering, suddenly remember a grudge that a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God’ (Matt. 5:23–24 THE MESSAGE).

“(As far as I know, this is the only time God tells you to slip out of church early. Apparently, he’d rather have you give your olive branch than your tithe. If you are worshiping and remember that your mom is hacked-off at you for forgetting her birthday, then get off the pew and find a phone. Maybe she’ll forgive you; maybe she won’t. But at least you can return to your pew with a clean conscience.)”

The last one is, “3. Are there any unsurrendered worries in my heart?

“’Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you’ (1 Pet. 5:7).

“(The German word for worry means ‘to strangle.’ The Greek word means ‘to divide the mind.’ Both are accurate. Worry is a noose on the neck and a distraction of the mind, neither of which is befitting for joy.)”

Max goes on, “Alarms serve a purpose. They signal a problem. Sometimes the problem is out there. More often it’s in here. So before you peek outside, take a good look inside.”

This is a great place to start for all of us.  It really is.  So would you go ahead and answer each question?  Would you confess that sin in your life, would you resolve that conflict with that someone, and then would you give your worries to him?  Would you?

Yes, yes!