Living in a State of Preparedness (Henro Nouwen)

Everything that comes from God asks for an open and faithful heart. We cannot live
with hope and joy in the end-time unless we are living in a state of preparedness.
We have to be careful because, as the Apostle Peter says: "Your enemy the devil
is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5.8).
Therefore Jesus says: "Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery
and drunkenness and the cares of life. ... Stay awake, praying at all times for
the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before
the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36). That's what living in the Spirit of Jesus calls
us to.