Arise!

Arise and call upon the name of your God!’” (Jonah 1:6)

A state of wakefulness allows for increased self-awareness and a sensitivity to others and what’s going on around us. Wakefulness is being alert and present.

For the child of God, wakefulness provokes us to pray and nothing moves us to pray more than trials. Yet, we should be careful that we do not act like Jonah and sleep while the stormy winds blow and the boat is tossed to and fro, while everyone else scampers around in fear. That was not faith on display, because Jonah could sleep through the storm, but spiritual indifference. 

Unless we are careful, we can sleep through times of trouble and distress also, when we should be praying. Even the “pagan sea captain was more awake than an Old Testament prophet. He roughly rouses the sleeping Jonah, ‘What do you mean O sleeper? Arise and call upon the name of your God!’” (Jonah 1:6)

“Now, while a man can pray he is never far from light; he is at the window, though, perhaps, the curtains are still closed. The man who can pray has the clue in his hand by which to escape from the labyrinth of affliction.”

"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." (Ephesians 5:14) 

Dear Lord, help us to wake up, draw back the curtains and pray.

​GiGi❤️