Time to Wake Up

I have been seeing the word Awakening for some time. In fact, it was occurring too many times. At first it was subtle, as if God was pricking my conscious. When I was surfing the TV stations, looking for a TV program to watch, I saw the movie title Awakening. I thought, " Lord, I don’t think you want me to watch this movie." However, it wasn’t about watching the movie it was all about noticing the title of the movie.

More interesting is my husband spoke about a church he was thinking about us attending. I mentioned that I know where it is located because I passed by it one day. Also, one of my ex-coworkers mentioned the church and I thought, perhaps, my family would attend one day. However, I was wondering, "Why was my husband asking about the church?" The church’ location was not too far from one of the stores we shopped. In fact, I told my husband that it is about 5 minutes from this store. For some reason, only God knows, he was more curious than ever about the church. Therefore, one day after we finished shopping, we drove by the church. We did not enter. We just looked at the church, as if we were sight-seekers. Since we moved to this state, our prayer has been for God to lead us to a church, but we wanted to confirm if this was the one. In our journey, God would lead and guide for a reason or a season. However, we needed to discern the difference.

As mentioned, we were new to the state and we wanted to find a new church home. I always wanted to visit this church and, now, my husband was curious about it. I knew God was directing, but there was an important element of timing. We needed to align with God’s word, will, and way. We continued to attend a nearby church until the commander in chief gave His orders.

Back to this word Awakening that has been heavy in my spirit. The word Awakening continued to appear on the internet, when I was reading an article, or someone would speak this word. One Sunday morning, I believe God was pressing on my heart that this Sunday is the day to visit the church. The original plan that Saturday night was to go to the church we normally attend, but this Sunday was different and there was a change in plans. I spoke to my husband and he agreed that we should visit. How many people know that our plans are not God’s plans? Isaiah 55:8 reminds us of this.

That Sunday, we got ready and went to the church that seemed to draw my husband and me. The pastor of the church did not preach this Sunday. There was a guest speaker, unknown to us. She began to talk about the history of the state. How, one man or minister named George Whitefield was the one God called to unite the colonies under one God. Wow, that was enlightening to hear about a minister that God inspired to help bring forth this nation under Him. She said God inspired him to wake up America, an Awakening. There it is! The word that has been so heavy in my spirit.

A little history on George Whitefield. According to an article on the pbs website “God in America - People and Ideas: Early American Individuals”, "George Whitefield was an Anglican priest and powerful orator with charismatic appeal. His central theme -- what must I do to be saved? -- was not new. Whitefield ignited the Great Awakening, a major religious revival that became the first major mass movement in American history. At its core, the Awakening changed the way that people experienced God. Instead of receiving religious instruction from their ministers, ordinary men and women unleashed their emotions to make an immediate, intense and personal connection with the divine".

The guest preacher continued and said that the United States needs another Awakening.

According to Dictionary.com, the word awakening has the following meanings:

· the act of awaking from sleep.

· a revival of interest or attention.

· a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something

There are scriptures that speak about awakening or awake:

Ephesians 5:14 - Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

John 11:11-14 - These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Isaiah 52:1 - Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

I believe God is confirming that there is a need for an awakening. How many people know that God has a way of getting your attention?

Alarm at 2

We were at a family reunion in North Carolina. It was the first time my husband and I attended this reunion. My parents attended it two years ago. The reunion is organized every two years and my aunt and uncle were the first to attend. It was very interesting to learn more about the history of the family, the struggles of the past, and the patriarchs who built the first church - a monument of the heritage and the faith that transcended throughout many generations. There was a sense of pride, accomplishments, and how trusting in God preserved a family of faith.

On August 4, 2019, early that Sunday morning, at about 2 AM, the alarm at the hotel we stayed at went off. The hotel is a completely non-smoking hotel, and someone decided to smoke. While we were sleeping, an unwise, wrong, and immoral act was performed.

The alarm was a piercing sound that woke up everyone who was asleep. As we exited the hotel, we walked down the stairs and saw the bewilderment on people’s faces. They were startled and wanted to know what was going on. Matthew 26:41 (MSG) reads, “Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger.”

The Amplified Bible tells us to “Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

If you do not know how to pray, The Lord has given us Matthew 6:9-13:

“In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

I believe God has set the alarm to wake us up from our spiritual slumber. We are to keep watching and praying”. Isaiah 29:15 (AMP) is setting an alarm, “Woe (judgment is coming) to those who [try to] deeply hide their plans from the Lord, Whose deeds are done in a dark place, And who say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?” The deeds of the enemy are done in the dark, but God brings His light.

Yes, the alarm was set off to awakened us to not be enticed or allured to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral. According to Dictionary.com the previous words are the definition of being tempted. We must be diligent and vigilant in our pursuit of holiness. We need God’s wisdom to engage in what matters to Him. We are living in a time where things we once called wrong, we’re calling right. We’re living in a time where what we considered unwise, we’re calling wise. And we’re living in a time where what we once called immoral, we’re calling moral. I believe God is saying, "we must look at the situation and call evil, evil". There is no sugar coating it. There is no in-between. The Lord said in Revelations 3:15-16, ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. God is not looking for any in-between. You are either for God and living a life that is wise, right or moral. Or you are against God and living a life that is unwise, wrong, or immoral. It is an alarm to recognize disobedience and call it as it is and start being obedient to the Lord. There is no compromising. The alarm is ringing to get us back in order. The alarm rang out around 2. Biblestudy.com gives the symbolic meaning of the number two. The number two symbolizes witness and support. "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil". ( ECC 4:9, ESV)

· There were two great lights of creation (Genesis 1:16).

· Two cherubim guarded the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:22).

· Two witnesses establish truth (Matthew 26:60).

· The disciples were sent two by two (Luke 10:1).

Matthew 18:20 reminds us, “For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them.” You are one and get your other one. When your children are going in the wrong direction, mom and dad you are to begin to pray. When your grandchildren are going astray, grandma and grandpa take the time to pray. When there is a problem, watch and pray. Watch what’s happening in your family, city, state, and nation and pray for the Lord to intervene.

Stop Sleeping - Wake Up!

The saints have fallen asleep and God wants to awaken the church to take its rightful place as the beacon of hope for this nation. We are more caught up in religion and not stressing the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ. The events and circumstances that are happening all around us are alarms that we need to wake up. God is saying, awake and pray for your nation. It’s time to pray God’s will be done. It’s time to speak to the lost and speak to people about the Lord. It’s time for people to stop playing and start praying. The alarm is ringing. It is ringing to wake us up. Stop sleeping on the situation, get up, watch and pray. When your situation doesn’t look great grab another to get a prayer through. When you feel you have nothing left, grab a hold of your good Christian friend or neighbor and pray. When you grab a hold, God comes into the midst. He said in His word, He will be right there. Tell Him what you need. Tell Him your hearts’ desires. Don’t wait another minute. Speak the things that are not as if they are. Say, “Father, heavenly father, I know you’re able. I know all powers in your hands. Lord we need you to come in and turn the situation around”. Stop your sleeping, get up, and wake up! Pray for your nation. And pray to the Lord to deliver you and yours. Saints watch and pray!

©2019 Seasons Change - Beverly Weir