The following words came to my mind and seem to be words from our Lord to His Church:
Awake, O Sleeper! Awake, My people, My Church! Your light is flickering. My truth is being denied. What are you, each one, to do?
1. Know Me and My will for your life
2. Focus on My Word/words and live as I am directing My people to live
3. Forsake meaningless, wasteful, destructive hours of entertainment and news that is of no consequence to you or Me.
When I opened my Bible for the Holy Spirit to give me understanding and confirmation about the above words, my attention was drawn to the following Scripture references:
1. Philippians 3:8-9 tells of Paul's statement that nothing is as important to him as to progressively know more of Christ Jesus his Lord and, putting aside all rubbish, to be one with Him, not because of self achieved righteousness but the right standing that comes from faith in Christ.
2. II Chronicles chapter 15:4-7 tells of a message to King Asa and all Judah and Benjamin that the Lord is with them if they are with Him and if they seek the Lord, He will be found.
In chapter 20:15 King Jehoshaphat and all who lived in Judah and Jerusalem were told not to be afraid or discouraged because of the vast army against them, "For the battle is not yours but God's." Jehoshaphat told the people to have faith in the Lord.
Chapter 20:21 tells of the king appointing men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness, giving thanks to the Lord for His love which endures forever. Verse 22 tells that as they began to sing and to praise, the Lord caused the enemy forces to fight among themselves and destroy each other. Verse 29 explains that fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord Himself had fought against the enemies of Israel.
Awake, Know God and Live As He Directs
Meditating upon the significance today of the above Scriptures, the Philippians reference gives us what is Paul's first priority: knowlng Jesus and oneness with Him, turning from harmful distractions. We can choose this as our first priority also. The Chronicles verses are among the many examples of the intent of God for us to seek Him and not be discouraged or afraid. Directions from God about how to handle various circumstances vary but the consistent truth is that we are to seek His perspective which can be found in the Word of God, the Holy Bible and the other numerous ways that the Holy Spirit uses to encourage and direct and educate us. We are to acknowledge God for who He is, praising and thanking Him. We are to acknowledge God's hand in our circumstances.
From my journal pages in April 2010
