Red Flags

Posted on May 2, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“And see if there is any wicked way in me, ​​And lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:24

I am always looking for the red flags that pop up in my life and in others that seem to begin a journey down a destructive path. A red flag is what I call those comments or decisions that are made that are uncharacteristic of a healthy walk, it’s those little innuendos that catch my eye or ear. Recently I read a post on Facebook that said something like, “There’s nothing wrong with putting yourself first, and from now on I’m gonna do me.” I read it again and asked myself out loud, “gonna do me?” That’s what I call a red flag, I bet I know how this is gonna end.

Before I get too far off line here I wanna say that I would never post that on Facebook, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think it. “I’m gonna do me” is an attitude of a selfish mood that is usually following a disappointment or a temporary lack of reasoning. It’s when I don’t get what I want and default to the flesh because at the moment it sounds good. Whenever I hear myself thinking along the “I’m gonna do me” line I need to retreat and find my true north, which is usually found in Psalm 139,  “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. ​​You know my sitting down and my rising up, You understand my thought afar off.”

There’s a spiritual mentality I should be in and then there’s those old mentalities I don’t belong in anymore.

There should be a portion of scripture that we can go to when the Holy Spirit is throwing up the spiritual red flag. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.;” The word “safe” can be translated as ‘protected.’ When my soul is injured I tend to put on a fleshly Band-Aid, which is driven by self. “I’m gonna do me” always sounds good, but it never ends up well. The act of trying to satisfy my own desires is an exhausting and endless black hole that can never be satisfied.

Psalm 107 is a picture of the works of the flesh trying to satisfy itself, 107:18-20 says:

“Their soul abhorred all manner of food,

​​And they drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

​​And He saved them out of their distresses.

​​He sent His word and healed them,

​​And delivered them from their destructions.”

But in verse 10 it says,

“For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

I’ve seen “Red Flags” ignored, and it’s not a pretty sight. Let’s save ourselves a lot of trouble and ask God to help us see those warnings before we end up saying things like “I’m gonna do me”, Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.