"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14).
Anyone who has a teenager knows that young people can fall asleep anywhere and sleep through almost anything! Their ears are immune to morning alarm clocks that continuously blare until parents intervene. Spiritually, we too can become too “sleepy” to recognize the move of God —stuck in the mundane function and routines of our lives. Yet, as believers, we are instructed to “wake up” and make the best use of our time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:14,16). This alert may seem daunting and even tempt us to hide “under the covers.” However, we were not made to retreat!
John Piper states, “Christian living is intensely practical. There are no experiences in life that God does not touch and change.” God has so much more for us than simply living to escape the darkness. The power of Jesus’ sacrifice covers and equips us for the life God intends. But before we can experience this fullness of life, we must allow Jesus to open our spiritual eyes. We must allow His light to illuminate any dark places lingering from our past, in our thoughts and feelings, or affecting our perspectives. To be fully alive in Christ, awake and ready to follow His lead, we can’t keep one foot in the darkness and the other in the light. As a loving Father, He cannot leave us in a debilitating balance.
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: Read and pray over these scriptures. Ask the Lord to reveal areas of your life where you may be sleepy and dull to the Spirit’s prompting.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting light” (Psalm 139:23-24).
“If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9)
“For once, you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
Prayer: Almighty God, thank You that Your light drives all darkness from us. Help us to seek You daily— keep changing us! We love You and thank You for loving us so much. Continuously make us more like Jesus! In Your name, we pray, Amen!
Final thought: When we seek the Lord and draw close to Him, He draws near to us!
Wake Up, O Sleeper
Focus on the Fruits! KINDNESS
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Responding to the Call: Embracing Jesus as Our King
“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:17-19).
Choosing a Soft Heart: Rekindling Your Hearts Compassion
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8).
Focus on the Fruits! PATIENCE
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
God’s Shining Face: The Profound Impact on Our Lives
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24- 26).
Focus on the Fruits! PEACE
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: A Journey Towards Divine Purpose
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Focus on the Fruits! JOY
“God will let you laugh again; you’ll raise the roof with shouts of joy” (Job 8:20).
Taking Up the Mantle: Your Role in Expanding God’s Kingdom
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).