He
Awakens Me… In His Word 2-15-2021
The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning
by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. Isaiah 50:4
Each
day we awake with a new beginning, but we do not always know it, or rather
realize it. Our God opens our eyes to newness each day and yet we often grumble
that its cold or its too early to get up. We drag ourselves out of bed and head
for the coffee or tea pot and ingest food. Then we may haphazardly read through
the Bible and say a prayer or two thinking we are such good people because we
gave God time. But what about taking the time to understand, really understand
what He wants to awaken in you?
“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving
God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord
of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed.
For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no
harm.’” Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord
listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was
written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about
the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s
Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special
treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will
again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those
who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:14-18
Maybe
you re like those people who awake and wonder today, why bother getting up? Its
all useless, the world is not the world anymore, my job is gone, my house will
be soon, what is the point?
Seek
the Lord. He is there waiting; He has awakened you for His purpose! Ask Him
where to go for the next job, why may not be an option, but seek His direction
and guidance and open your ears and eyes to the answers around you. Sometimes it
is not what we think it will be, but God has a plan. Trust Him. Remember He is
a God of mercy.
I
have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In
this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in
your anger, remember your mercy. Malachi 3:2
Even
in the dark days, remember Him for He will remember you. Keep praying, keep
worshiping Him with your life, with your song, with your heart… and trust Him
to bring you through this dark hour to the light.
Even
though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even
though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though
the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will
rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in
the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as
surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Malachi 3:17-19
We
need to be prepared for things to change, to be different than that which we closed
last year. We need to be ready to still show ourselves approved by God. We need
to be set and ready in the Word of God and that means by reading, praying, and
worshiping Him in our spirit and in our lives.
So,
prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in
the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to
the world. So, you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into
your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You did not know any
better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who
chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am
holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
Do
not focus on the bad but instead seek God for the good! He is after all the
author and finisher of our faith! Look for the silver lining in each day; the
break of sun shining through a cloudy day. Take that time to sit in it and bask
in His presence!
Try
this; listen to worship songs, speaking the Psalms and Hymns and listen to them
in eagerness to apply the words to your heart and mind. Make them your heart
cry to the Lord.
When
my youngest was born beyond blue I had peace because of a scripture that had
been applied to my heart. He will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on
Him!
You
will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed
on you! Isaiah 26:3
I
handed my husband the Bible beside me and told him to do the same, to find a
scripture to stand on in Jesus’ name! It
is amazing the things we can get through when we keep our minds on Him!
Sure,
there are a lot of things out there to fear, and tremble over, but I would rather
tremble at the blessings of God which He has poured over me! I would rather focus on the good. Seek Him
when He awakens me physically and ask Him to awaken my spirit to serve Him as
He would have me serve. To worship Him as He would have me worship, and to love
others as He would have me love… In Jesus’ name!
Now,
who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is
right, God will reward you for it. So, don’t worry or be afraid of their
threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone
asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this
in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people
speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live
because you belong to Christ. Remember,
it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to
suffer for doing wrong! Christ suffered[d] for our sins once for all time. He
never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He
suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:13-18
Our
suffering may not compare to that of Christ on the cross, but even so it may
seem that way to us now. Jesus sought the Father to find another way, yet He
still suffered the death for our sins. He obediently walked in the way He
should go, even though it was difficult to grasp in the moments before it, and
I am sure agonizingly painful in the midst, He pushed on for us. So, if Jesus
can do that for us, we can respond in kind when He awakens us.
Not
my will but thine be done, oh Lord. I will rise! I will get up and write! I
will get up and pray! I will get up and do the will of the Father, that I may please
Him. In Jesus’ name
Read some more? Habakkuk 3:1-19, Malachi 3:1-18, 1 Peter 1:1-25, and 1 Peter 3:1-22.