Living Spiritually Aware, Awake & Alive

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” —Ephesians 5:14 (NIV)

I have a pink Post-it on my desk with an invitation for the Holy Spirit to make me sensitive to His prompts and nudging each day. It serves as a tangible reminder that the day should not be determined solely by my to-do list and priorities but rather directed by the Spirit. When I get still and lean into the guidance and direction of the Advocate, I become more aware of things at play in the spiritual realm. Most days, there is someone God puts on my mind to pray for, write, call, or visit. When I answer the call that the Spirit has placed on my heart, I am undoubtedly blessed by the conversation and community.

Ephesians 5:14 is like an alarm clock ringing on the nightstand, beckoning us to wake up from our spiritual slumber. If you are like me, you press the snooze button more times than you care to admit. Luckily, we don’t have to be morning people to be spiritually aware. We answer the call to wake up in Ephesians 5 by inspecting our lives, repenting of sins, praying more, listening better, loving harder, and being so alive in Christ that we want to share our testimonies with everyone. “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11, NIV)

Recently, I shared a small part of my testimony with a Bible study group, and a lady commented on how many personal revelations I have shared with them. Another woman remarked, “I bet we all have a lot of revelations. We just need to learn to notice and remember them better.”

My study partner was right; I have learned to more readily notice and recall God’s wondrous deeds (Psalm 77:11) because they are a lifeline for me. I have been through many valleys where Christ seemed distant, and I couldn’t see Him at work. By reliving and retelling all the times He has been faithful to me, I can better face the uncertainty of tomorrow. I became more spiritually aware from walking through those valleys with our Comforter.

God doesn’t give me more attention than others. My secret is to write down all the times the veil between heaven and earth has lifted, so I can remember those moments years later. So, I can tell my kids, neighbors, and strangers for the rest of my days. So, are you awake, friend? Are you telling others about your relationship with Christ? Are you still enough to hear the Spirit whispering your name? He will draw near to you when you draw near to Him. (James 4:8)

Questions for Reflection:

1. How spiritually aware are you? Can you reflect and recognize some of the pieces to the puzzle God has laid out?

2. Do you keep a gratitude and/or prayer journal? When I review my past journals, I see God’s hands all over my days.