How do you wake up in the morning? Are you like me, awake before the alarm most days by some mysterious process of timing that you can’t explain to others? Or are you someone who has to be roused from slumber by an alarm clock (or several alarm clocks)? Do you feel like you never sleep anyway, so waking up is something you can’t really say you ever do?
Do you wake up grumpy and like to keep hitting the ‘snooze’ button, coming round gradually? Or do you leap out of bed straightaway and click straight into ‘day mode’? Can you be ‘up and at ’em’ within seconds of rousing or do you need time to have a cup of coffee and come round gradually before you face others?
We are all different and waking up can be different for all of us. But there is no doubt that God wants us to wake up. The psalmist said “Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” (Ps 57:8) Isaiah urged Israel “Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength!” (Is 52:24). Paul urged the Thessalonians “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” (1 Thess 5:6) Revelation tells us “Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Rev 16:15)
Whatever personality type you are in waking up, let’s wake up, shake the sleep from our souls and serve God with all our might:
“In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
Awakening
Holy Spirit, we desire
Awakening
For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me” (‘Awakening’, Chris Tomlin)
‘Awakening’, Chris Tomlin
‘Wake up! Rise up!
All the earth is singing
Louder, stronger
Shout it out and worship!’ (‘Wake Up’, Tim Hughes)
‘Wake Up’, Tim Hughes