Waking Up Alive

Silly title…waking up alive. Of course you’re alive if you wake up. Physically maybe, yes, but when you wake up does it dawn on you that you awoke. It doesn’t for me many times because my alarm wakes me up. What is the first thing that goes through your mind when the alarm clock goes off?

A strange thing happened to me this morning when my alarm awoke me from a deep sleep; I rejoiced and thanked Jesus. I was immediately aware of and thankful for today. And not just thanking Jesus for another day, but for today and all that today has in store for me in Christ.

I love watching the sunrise because it means renewal. One of my birds named Woody (a zebra finch) teaches me a lot about loving the sunrise. This time of the year the sun rises and sets in the southern part of the horizon and in the morning the sun will shine right into the corner of Woody’s cage, and he puts his little body in the midst of it and sings for all he’s worth. Also some mornings when I arrive to work there will be a single bird singing. It is nature’s way of saying thank you for a new day.

    “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.” (Psalm 104:30)

Every day that we awaken should be a reminder of our origin and God’s personal hand in creation:

    “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

I laid in bed for just a minute pondering how simple of a miracle it is that we have life and then was reminded of a Chris Rice song titled “Life Means So Much” and I particularly like the chorus:

    Teach us to count the days
    Teach us to make the days count
    Lead us in better ways
    Somehow our souls forgot
    Life means so much
    Life means so much
    Life means so much

Moses taught us to count the days, to number them to make us wise:

    “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

At the end of Chris Rice’s song in the background you hear him singing the following lines:

    Every day is a day you’ve been given
    Make the most of the time every minute you’re living

The Apostle Paul teaches us in two places about “redeeming the time” and how we should approach life as a Christian:

    “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:5-6)

    “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

How do you greet your alarm clock? Do you wish you could sleep in? God can arrange that through your being unemployed.

How do you apply yourself at work? Is the only difference between you and the average co-worker is that you claim to be a Christian?

How do you approach the angry atheist? Does he or she perplex and frustrate you because they are better at debating the existence of God than you? Do you answer in anger because of your lack of biblical knowledge? Do you realize every time you do that Satan can use that to his advantage?

Here is a simple exercise for you to do before you raise your head from your pillow; I did it just this morning. It only takes a few minutes.

Acknowledge you are awake because Creator God has allowed it in His sovereignty, grace and mercy.

Confess your sin whatever it may be. Confession means agreement with God and believers confess not to receive forgiveness but to experience forgiveness. Confession puts us in a right relationship with God.

Thank God for another day. Thank Him for His mercy. Thank Him for supplying you with all that is needed to live and thrive for His glory.

Submit to His will and submit your cares and prayers to the Heavenly Father because He cares for you.

Acknowledge. Confess. Thank. Submit. ACTS, a pretty simple little acronym that can start your day out on the right foot before you even place it on the floor.

Did you wake up alive this morning? Are you alive yet? What is the source of your life? If you do not have Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior you have good reason to not feel alive. You have good reason to fear death. In fact the most valuable thing you have is your last breath. You will do all you can to keep from using it.

But even if you are a Christian too often we find ourselves going through life like a zombie, which is a picture of death and darkness. That’s a far cry from being the salt and the light of the world.

Are you alive yet?

I pray so.

I will be taking a long weekend so the Lord willing we will see you on Tuesday.

May you have a blessed weekend and please remember to go to church on Sunday.

One more thing…

Wake up…

You’re alive!

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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