Today’s Bible Verse

Later, [Jesus] came back to his three disciples and found them all sound asleep. He awakened Peter and said to him, “Could you not stay awake with me for even one hour? Keep alert and pray that you’ll be spared from this time of testing. Your spirit is eager enough, but your humanity is weak.” 

Matthew 26:40 (TPT)

Awaken

Perhaps you remember this childhood nursery rhyme, “Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, brother John, brother John, morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing, ding-dang-dong, ding-dang-dong”?

Jesus took Peter, James and John to Gethsemane and said to them, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went off to pray only to find them asleep when He returned. This happened three times. Not once, not twice, but three times! How can it be that the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, Who was with them in the flesh, knowing He was crushed with grief to the point of death (as Jesus TOLD them) and about to be crucified for THEIR sins, be ignored by His very own disciples? This is JESUS we are talking about. 

Jesus said, “Your spirit is eager enough, but your humanity is weak.” If the sound of my voice could jump through this text to you it would sound something like, “Aaaaaaggggghhhhh!” When we think we have been at the feet of Jesus long enough, please be assured it is never enough! More of Him and less of me is what our stance should be. Spirit lead as I crucify my flesh daily! Die to self and live for His kingdom purpose! 

The disciples were on assignment. They were given a directive from the Son of God Himself. They had one job. They failed miserably. A little sleep, a little slumber. We can look at this in the natural as far as physical sleep. However, how many of us are asleep in the spirit realm when we ignore the words of Jesus to keep alert and pray? He goes on to say why, “…that you’ll be spared from this time of testing.” It wasn’t for Himself that He was giving them this assignment–it was for them, for their benefit! 

How many times have you ignored, run past, delayed or simply dismissed His Word, directive, assignment, mission, commission, in your life? In your day to day? Let us not fall asleep–we are on mission–on assignment! Awaken to your God-given assignment. Awaken to the heavenly vision. Awaken to your purpose. Awaken to the great commission. 

We must not be so consumed with our flesh or “tiredness” and have a “woe-is-me” attitude. Rather, when we position ourselves under the light of His presence through the power of the Holy Spirit, we remove the veils that so easily blind us into the weight and distress of humanity. 

If I can be so bold, yet with great respect, I ask you, “Do you tend to feel sorry for yourself?” “I am doing so much”, “Don’t they understand?”, “I have so much to do”, “Do they even recognize all that I do?” One thing to remember is that all that we do is not unto man, it is unto the Lord. When our eyes are set on Jesus, all that we do, we do not do in our own strength but in His. His yolk is easy, His burden is light. 

My husband and I, for many years (20+) worked (as volunteers) in the ministry as only we knew how. We loved the Lord (still do and MORE!) and all that we did was never for man–it was for God and Him alone. We never complained–not in public, NOR in private. Rather we knew that what we did for His kingdom was what He placed us here on earth for.

I don’t say any of this to boast, in fact it is with great humility that I even state this, but I believe that it was because of our hearts for Him that God has called us to this level of ministry. Had we been in a “sleep state” we would have certainly missed His call. Were we perfect? Nope–not one bit. Do we fail or fall short at times? Yup, but choose to get back up every time. The Lord was gracious with us–always has been. Our love and passion for Him is our driving factor. How can it be that as a disciple of Jesus we would not heed His Word or assignment? Yes, this is done every day by those that call themselves Christians, and yes even disciples.

So if you find yourself asleep, you must AWAKEN. Awaken to His call and purpose. Awaken to be ministers of the Gospel. As the church (I am the church, you are the church, we are the church), as leaders, as pastors, we cannot be asleep. The adversary wants you comfortable and sleepy eyed. He will even turn the lights off for you, get you cozy and warm in your bed, so that the assignment and mission that has been set on your life is missed through your slumber. Don’t give in to the flesh but rather be lead and submitted to the power of the Holy Spirit. It is time to AWAKEN! (Pastor Annette Sagarnaga, Word of Life Arizona)

Change My Story

STAY AWAKE. KEEP ALERT. PRAY. 

These are the three (3) things that Jesus asked of His three (3) disciples. Yet, they grew tired! Be on alert! If you have found yourself in a “sleepy” position, this is your call to AWAKEN! Brother John and Sister Sally, can you hear it? Morning bells are ringing, ding-dang-dong. Jesus is calling! 

Are you awake? Are you alert? Are you in prayer? In Ephesians 5:14 (AMPC) it states: “Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.”

This is the day, this is the time and this is the hour to AWAKEN what God has placed on the inside of you.  

#staywokeforJesus 

Today’s Declaration

Father, I thank You for Your grace over my life. I know that You have placed a call and purpose upon my life. Today, this day, I choose to AWAKEN to Your plans. I choose to be on ALERT and stay in PRAYER for when the time of testing comes I will be spared. Forgive me, Father, if I have been asleep to this heavenly vision. I am on assignment and I am awake! There is an awakening on the inside of me like ever before. Thank You, Father! In Jesus Name. Amen!

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: Isaiah 29-30; Proverbs 23:19-35
• New Testament: Luke 22:47-53; Hebrews 7:1-10