Fresh StartSample

Staying Awake

Have you ever fallen asleep in class? Or what about those sleep-deprived days of having a newborn? We’ve all had seasons of weariness, and we know that when we are groggy, our senses get diminished. We can lose judgment, misunderstand others, and lose our temper more easily.

In short, weariness makes us act worse.

The same principle is true spiritually. If we are not alert, or spiritually awake, we are more prone to acting worse. That groggy spirit can cause us to miss what God is doing in our midst.

When Peter sees Moses and Elijah having a conversation with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-32), it’s shocking. It’s a supernatural appearance, so on one hand we can’t blame Peter for being surprised, yet only when they became “fully awake” were they able to see “His glory”.

To be “fully awake” means tuning our senses to recognise the glory of God in our midst.

Would you describe yourself as spiritually alert? Do you quickly spot His divine hand at work in your circumstances?

God is definitely at work all around us. If you don’t readily see Him, it’s not because He is hiding or mysterious. More likely, it’s because you’re not being spiritually alert.

Consider making a shift in your perspective. For example, rather than simply being in awe of a beautiful sunset, take a moment to worship the Creator of the sun. Before paying bills online, pause to thank God for being your great Provider. A simple discipline like this can help you remain spiritually awake.