We have had some harsh winter weather in TN for a few days here and there over the past month. It is difficult to ignore the warnings of the local meteorologists. We have had "red alert" weather days for extreme cold (zero degrees with below zero wind chills), excessive rain, and also some freezing rain/sleet/snow mixtures. I am thankful they do their job of informing the public. However, sometimes the dire forecast does not quite come to fruition. 

One day last week, I started out about 30 minutes earlier than normal to clear the ice off my windshield. As I was gingerly walking down the front steps, I realized there was only a little bit of ice on them. When I got to the sidewalk, and driveway and checked our cul-de-sac, there seemed to be no ice on them. I was still a bit nervous driving to work, but grateful that it didn't seem too bad. 

I slowly backed my car out of the driveway and tested the brakes against the pavement a few times before I took to the open road of the highway and all seemed fine. The overheard TDOT signs warned of patches of black ice, and to be cautious, especially on the bridges and overpasses. 

As I continued to drive, I found myself being more confident in the lack of ice and found myself tempted to drive faster than the 10 miles under the speed limit I had been going at the beginning of my journey to work. It would have been easy to be lulled back into the familiarity of the roads that I've driven almost every day for the past 6 1/2 years. However, I knew I needed to stay alert and be prepared for the unexpected. 

It was then, that the Lord reminded me of I Peter 5:8-9 (NLT), "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith..." 

God wants us to be ready for the unexpected patches of ice in our lives that would slip us up and cause us to fall. Don't ignore His gentle nudges. I pray that as you go about your day, you will remember to stand with Him. 

This post was prompted by Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with little editing. (Some weeks I have more trouble with that part than others.) Check out the other writers this week!