CHAPTER 42: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 2026
Situational awareness is the ability to perceive, understand, and make informed decisions. Where you are, where you need to be, where you don’t need to be. That is the definition of Chapter 42, right? Well, yes, but by the end, it will be precisely clear why I needed to write this chapter to myself. Key principles include being “sober and vigilant” against spiritual threats (1 Peter 5:8), understanding the times like the sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32), and walking carefully in evil days (Ephesians 5:15-16). By the way, who were the sons of Issachar, cool bunch of individuals. The children of Issachar were 200 leaders in Israel known for their profound wisdom, discernment, and ability to understand the times—specifically knowing the right actions for Israel to take during David’s rise to power. They were considered strategic, in tune with God’s timing, and capable of interpreting societal trends, which allowed them to effectively guide the nation. In short, situational awareness, i.e., discernment for a nation. Pretty huge job, I’d say. Pretty groovy club. Just a little interesting information.
Now, let’s break into my day, and your day. Situational awareness: where are your financials, cash flow AR/AP, tax liability, Faith in God, study of the bible, where are your employees, what are they doing right now, debt and interest/penalties, money owed to you, what condition are the brakes on your vehicle, what is your country doing politically, what about your state, what are your children doing when you’re not looking, what are you doing when people are not looking? Lots of questions, lots of situations. What is the most serious question of all in situational awareness? Your faith? Your walk? Your relationship with Jesus Christ? You answer that and it is the beginning of sanity.
John 14:23: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them'”.
That is something to consider. Okay, let’s turn to the Bible for an example of people who error and misjudge Situational Awareness. I’ll give an example of what happens when an enemy of God doesn’t realize he is outgunned, somewhere in the neighborhood of 739 BC. Rabshakeh, an Assyrian army representative answering only to the King Sennacherib of Assyria, anyway Rabshakeh stood at the gates of Jerusalem and demanded the surrender of King Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem or face complete annihilation by the Assyrian army. Rabshakeh stated plainly that even the God of Israel could not stop this threat. (He probably should’ve stopped short of that statement.) To be fair Rabshakeh did have historical evidence that the army had conquered 46 fortified cities and countless small villages and now the crown jewel of Jerusalem was on the chopping block. Well, as you can imagine King Hezekiah of Judah was terror stricken and, again, long story short, he took his grievance, fear, terror and request to the Lord. He knew, situational awareness, where he was.
Isaiah 37:17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.
And the Lord answered him, immediately through Isaiah. Isaiah said, and I quote:
Isaiah 37:33 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.
Isaiah 37:35 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ”
Isaiah 37:36 Then the angel[a] of the Lord went out, and [b]killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.
Situational awareness, Rabshakeh did not have any idea where he was standing? PS, Rabshakeh’s King, Sennacherib of Assyria, twenty years later, was killed by the hand of his own children while honoring his false god, ..all prophesied by Isaiah. Again, long story short, Hezekiah, King of Judah and follower of God, clearly knew where he was and who he was in the eyes of God. What about the prophet Isaiah who gave the message from God? Same thing, he knew who he was, where he was and in addition, important to note, Isaiah knew and recognized the voice of God and obeyed instantly. Not knowing Situational Awareness cost the lives of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and saved the city of Jerusalem. Clearly, prayer works, as you can see situational awareness is something we all need. Now, what causes incorrect situational awareness? Basically, not paying attention. Sure, arrogance, stupid and, my favorite, stubborn free will are helpful in destructive behavior, but basically, not paying attention.
Romans 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
Am I vigilant, am I gambling with my life, am I engaging in relationships harmful? Do I know where I’m standing, what I’m doing, who I am, what I represent? Am I, paying attention?
(2 Corinthians 10:5) Do I take all thoughts captive to the Lord?
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
God may be saying “look where you were, where you’ve been, what I saved you from, because I love you and was always with you.” Now what are you doing with it? Stop! Stand still! Observe and pay attention!
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
Stay in the fellowship of relevant people. Foolishness has no place in a position of authority.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.
Other examples of people who did not understand situational awareness.
- Judas Iscariot, wrong thinking.
- Samson the strong man, did not respect God’s strength.
- King Saul, arrogance against God.
- Adam and Eve, stupid. Unaware.
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver and committed suicide. Samson, a harlot bamboozled the strong man, deceived him and took him down. King Saul, took God for granted cost him everything.
1 Samuel 31:6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his soldiers died together that day.
Adam, and Eve, the cost is immense. Required Jesus the Savior to redeem the entire human race from beginning to end for one disobedient act. Who did invent situational awareness? Well, Jesus was quite clear, God is the answer in all forms or irresponsible behavior.
Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
The word is: “Logos.” Devine revelation of the divine thought. It is the communication of the most perfect thought, information or intelligence to another. Let God guide, know the voice of Jesus.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
In 1889, Andrew Murray, one of the founders of the South African General Mission is quoted as saying, “The secret of faith is this: there can be only as much faith as there is the living Word dwelling in the soul.”
Try that on your balance sheet and see what happens. The question Chapter 42 poses? Where are you, who, why and what are you? Let’s answer that. Who am I in God, who are you in God?
God says I am His beloved child, 1 John 3:1
God says I am chosen, Ephesians 1:4–6, NLT
God says I am valuable, Ephesians 2:10, NLT
God says I am redeemed, Ephesians 1:7, NLT
God says I am a new person in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17
The righteousness of God in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21
His friend, John 15:15
His ambassador, 2 Corinthians 5:20
A member of Jesus Christ’s body, John 15:1–10
Heir to His Kingdom and His glory, Galatians 4:7
God says I am exceedingly loved, Romans 5:8, NLT
John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
You and I both know where we are now, what we are now doing and whether it is right or wrong. We absolutely know. The only thing that gets in the way, is what I want. The past of when I did not know, is gone, forever. If knowing God I decide to justify my actions that are not of God, having been born again into the spirit of God, then surely I am a fool. I know there is a God and I am not Him. I have come to far to act like I don’t know. When I didn’t know, I didn’t know. Back then I was not connected to the Spirit. Now I know, now you know. I have no excuse to pretend like my way is the right way, no right to justify my actions in the name of God, no right to go back and glorify those things that are not God, no right not to lean on the Lord in all matters, no right to propagate or support wrong doing in the name of right. I have asked God to remove stupid and made that request in His Holy name, the name of God Almighty and the Savior of us all, by the blood of the cross.
If I, by my own freewill knowingly adjust my behavior to fit sin, debauchery, false teaching or any such behavior that manifests itself in the right to do what I want, instead of what needs to be done, disobedient to what God has taught. If I do that, I do that of my own free will and I am responsible for it. I am knowingly pretending like there are no consequences, stupid and absolutely a breach of fiduciary duty that God has given me to do what is right. You and I are an example of the eleven items listed above, God’s perfect plan for you, me and fellowship with our Creator.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
It is mine to do, serve, ask for strength to conquer sin, ask for the clarity of discernment in the Holy Spirit, and render myself a slave to the King of Kings, not to the sins of the world or the liar that inspires the madness that walks the earth. Anything short of all that is nothing. So again, I ask you. What is the nature of situational awareness? Ask the question. Ask it clearly. What is the nature of situational awareness in one statement?
Knowing you are where you should not be. Period.
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Situational awareness chapter 42, 2026
Amen.
