Following is a devotion from my book: The Gift of a Goat
BE ON GUARD AT ALL TIMES
The teenage girl was a patient on the nursing unit where I worked. She was angry and impulsive. When I looked the other way for a moment, she picked up the desk phone and aimed for my head. I reacted just in time to prevent having a lumpy head. Thank you, Lord, for quick reflexes!
Danger can be present anywhere in the world. We can make laws to keep us safe, but outlaws don’t follow laws. Nor do some people who have a distorted view of the world.
So often in our world we hear of multiple shootings and other heinous crimes against children and adults. How do we protect ourselves?
Sometimes we can’t protect ourselves from physical assaults. But we can protect ourselves from malevolent spiritual assaults which may also result in harm to the flesh. God provided us with his word for that purpose. 
Around 60 AD, in his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul wrote how to resist evil spiritual forces coming against us: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (Ephesians 6:12-13). He goes on to list the pieces of spiritual armor needed, comparing them to pieces of physical armor, something that would be understood in Paul’s world.
Our defense is to cling to God through prayer and reading the Bible, to mentally put our hands in his when evil threatens to overcome or when someone insults us or hurts us in a tragic way. To receive spiritual protection, put on the armor of God: “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:14-17). 
The world throws terrible disasters our way. The Bible cautions,
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
There are things we may never understand. Questions we may not get answered in this life. The Bible says, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
When I find truths and answers today in a Bible verse that yesterday meant little or nothing to me, I know today is the day I need to understand that verse. Today is the day I need that truth. 
When my oldest daughter was three and full of questions I couldn’t always answer, she said, “When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask the pants off God!” Me too. And He will answer. 

Husband to store owner: "This is my wife's birthday. I'd like to buy her a nice toaster.
Clerk: "Will that surprise her?"
Husband: "You bet, she's expecting a Ferrari!"

Many of us have reasons to hate someone. But we have better reasons to forgive them.