Daily Devo

Alarms and Alerts

By: Wendy Sanders

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

Recently, I woke up startled, thinking my alarm didn't ring so I'd be late. But when I realized it was only 2:30 am I was relieved. Then I thought, did I even set my alarm? When I checked, I realized that I had set it, and I thanked the Lord for giving us alarms. But that experience prompted me to think this: What would our world be like if we didn't have alarms?

Alarms and alerts keep us on track, and they warn us of danger. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. He is our spiritual alarm system. If we find ourselves in a situation that is pulling us away from God, The Holy Spirit will set off alarms and alerts in our spirit.

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. John 17:14

Before we surrendered our lives to Jesus, we didn’t have a spiritual alarm system. The Holy Spirit wasn't living within us yet. But the moment we accepted Christ, the Holy Spirit activated our internal, spiritual alert system. Even better, it's constantly powered by God, so it will never fail or need batteries!

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

There is a time and a place for silent alarms, like those that notify the police when a business is entered illegally. But most alarms are meant to be heard, and they usually cause an action or reaction. This is similar to what the Holy Spirit does inside of us. He alerts us internally, so we'll do something externally. His alerts may be loud and clear, but sometimes they are more like a gentle nudge.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Christ follower, is the Holy Spirit alerting you to anything? Is He warning you about a relationship, or a job opportunity? Has He warned about a situation or an invitation you've received? Whether it was loud and clear or a quiet whisper, take time to pray about what He revealed.

If alarms are going off but you're unsure how to proceed, make sure whatever you're considering aligns with God's Word. After all, God never contradicts Himself!