Awaken!!!

As I awoke this morning I told the Lord I wanted to spend time with Him in prayer (on my knees).  What a rude awakening of a thought!!!  Why would I, God’s daughter have to express to Him my desire to kneel before Him?   You see prayer is one thing I’ve been taught and place as high priority in my life.  Even the attitude of prayer (In Luke 18:1 Jesus told his disciples that men should always pray and not faint).  I even guard my drive to work as I’ve designated that time to pray in the spirit (Jude 1:20 says, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost). And as much as possible I attend 1 hour (On Wednesday) noon prayer at our church.  Matthew 26:40 Jesus asked his disciples...What, could you not watch with me one hour?

I was taught by some amazing God-fearing church mothers years ago about the significance of kneeling before the Lord in prayer.  It brings you into relationship with God that can’t be attained any other way.   Kneeling requires a position of humility and reverence that I’m afraid that we as a whole seem to have gotten away from.   Has prayer time on our knees in our churches and private lives become a thing of the past?  Have we fallen asleep and allowed the devil to steal the most intimate and most powerful privilege allowed to men?   

As I continued to dialogue this thought within; I realized that not only have prayer been assaulted, but admonishment to read and study God’s word has dwindled and no longer a major emphases.  It’s no longer a recommendation for God’s people to bring their bibles to the house of the Lord because it’s now displayed on our big screens. (II Timothy 2:15 states to us as God’s people to Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth).  The devil has even “shrewdly” slipped different bible translations; taking out power words that without them the church becomes nothing more than another lifeless social institution. Example the word repentance very necessary for conversion is removed from Matthew 9:13 in the NI, NAS, NWT. MSG bibles; also an  entire scripture excluded;  Matthew 18:11 reads “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  Totally omitted in the  (NI, NAS, NWT, MSG).

Continuing this internal discussion; It came to thought that even our freedom to gather as a corporate body is under attack.  (Hebrew 10:15 tell us, (Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching).  David even says in (Psalms 122:1  - I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord).  Small groups are now replacing our mid-week corporate services.  

Have we, or are we allowing the devil to fan us to sleep?  Extinguishing the fire that once blazed with love and hunger for God.  Can you remember your first love?  That first person you were overhead in love with.  You couldn’t sleep without dreaming about them.  You couldn’t eat while in their presence.  You couldn’t wait for that next phone call. 

In Revelation 2:4 Jesus says, nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.  The statement does not suggest that we no longer have love for Him.  Rather, that the quality of our love for Him has weakened.  The words left means to depart, leave alone, forsake and neglect (divorce). For example how often have you lost your keys, sunglasses or favorite pair of earrings?  The process of finding the item(s) would be to back track in your mind; to remember the last place you had them. As you find the item(s) you were looking for, you discover that they were right where you left them!  And it’s that way with your first love for God.  If you’ve lost it, guess where it is.  It’s wherever you left it.  Jesus says, go back and find it.  It is still there because God hasn’t moved.  He’s waiting on you to come back.

 (2 Timothy 3:1-4 says, This know also, that in the last days dangerous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God).  Have our love for pleasure superseded our love for God?  We must shake our selves and wake up!!! I Thessalonian 5:5-6 says – For you are all children of light, children of the day.  We are not of the night or of the darkness.  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober!!! 

We must awake and aware of Satan’s plot.   In 2 Corinthians 2:11 the Apostle Paul alludes to the possibility that Satan might take advantage of God’s people “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices”. 

So let's arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord has risen up on His Church!!!  We're Awaken in HIM!!!