John 11:11, 43 (NKJV),
“Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”, “He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
Have you ever heard your alarm but couldn’t really move to shut it off? How about feeling so tired after you get out of bed that you are begging for a cup of coffee? Maybe you are sitting in a meeting or trying to work, but you can’t keep your eyes open?
We all have days where we feel more tired or even like we are sleepwalking through the day. It could come from a variety of sources too. Most of the time we fail to get enough rest to let our mind and body recover during the period we are supposed to sleep.
It doesn’t matter the age, we can all stay up past what we set for bedtime, but we may not sleep as we should either. Younger people these days can get addicted to video games, social media, or even binge watching a program they have interest in. If we are really honest, this doesn’t have to be just young people.
The world as we know it has changed into a fast-paced arena where we are bombarded with technology which gives us instant access to many sources of media. Unfortunately, the days of the simple video game system, basic cable tv, and a phone on the wall are way behind us, but technology is not the only thing that steals our rest.
We can push ourselves in our jobs or hobbies to the point where before we know it the sun is rising on a new day. We can get overwhelmed by everything that is happening in our lives which causes us to stare at the ceiling or our minds not to shut off. This lack of rest can take a toll on us by draining our minds alertness and physical energy to operate.
Trying to overcome this mental darkness can lead to unhealthy solutions. We used to only have to worry about drinking coffee, but now we have a variety of energy drinks, energy shots, or pills to counteract the haziness. We reach for that quick fix, rather than change anything else that may correct the issue.
A lack of rest can be hazardous in so many ways. Even laying down to take a nap cannot always change how we feel, in fact it can make us feel worse than when we started. Trying to wake up from a non-chemical induced zombie like state is not fun and definitely counterproductive.
The bottom line is that we need to take care of our physical rest and health if we want to be able to function as we should. But the physical is not the only arena we need to be wary of. We also have our spiritual side that needs to be taken care of and the two go hand in hand. Physical exhaustion can drain us spiritually, but a vibrant spirit can infuse our physical being and help us find the rest that we seek.
Many of us have been spiritually asleep for longer than we care to admit and it’s time that we wake up. Let this be your alarm clock that has no snooze. The Lord is calling each of us to not only be His hands and feet in this world, but his voice as well. And it doesn’t matter who you are.
In the opening portion of scripture, we all should know the story of Lazarus. A close friend of Jesus got sick and died. Jesus could have gotten there sooner to heal him, but He did not. In the end Lazarus was dead, and Jesus called him out of the grave by name. Just as if there is any portion of us that is spiritually dead, He is calling us back to life.
We don’t need any coffee or an energy shot to get us out of the bed running. We have God’s word filled with His promises that will provide everything we need to break us out of our deep slumber. The ultimate battery pack that never needs to be recharged will energize our journey.
Now let the words from Paul in Ephesians 5:14 energize you further, “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” This should make you want to start dancing, do a back flip, or run a marathon. Well maybe a 5K. Alright, a trot around the block.
We all walk in varying shades of darkness that can make us a spiritual zombie. We have been given a light by Christ to light up every dark corner of our souls so we can then shine that light in the world. There are more lumens available to us that can ever be measured.
In Isaiah 60:1 we find more assurances, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” The morning sun when it rises, the glory of the Lord rises with it and upon us. The warmth of that sun will send its radiant energy deep into our soul and take us to new heights.
Romans 13:11 talks about a different angle, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Our eyes and heart must be open to accept the salvation that the Lord offers.
We need to make sure that we are spiritually awake, we cannot let the shadows keep us in slumber. Just as Christ woke up Lazarus, He calls to each one of us every day. So, make sure that you walk out of your grave and tell everyone you meet how He brought your dead soul back to life. There is always someone who needs to hear your testimony.
KEEP YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY AWAKE
The morning alarm is sounding and I can barely open my eyes,
I keep on trying with all my might but my body will not rise.
The fog in my mind won’t go away no matter how much coffee I drink,
Taking a nap only makes things worse and not any easier to think.
I feel so worn out throughout the day that it’s difficult to keep on moving
Even pushing at work to get things done and nothing is improving.
I feel like I am sleepwalking not knowing where I am going,
Lord, wake me up so I can see the path that you are showing.
My child, you are not in a slumber no matter what you claim,
If you pause just long enough you can hear me calling you out by name.
The darkness is filling your ears and causing your eyelids to close,
Your mind still feels like it’s sleeping before the rooster crows.
You have to decide what you want and where you want to be,
Staying planted in this world or walking closely with me.
Throw back the covers and jump out of bed as if the earth did quake,
Then read from my word every day to Keep Yourself Spiritually Awake.
Simple Faith Christian
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