Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

It strikes me that everything in this well-loved and glorious chapter is about things God does for His people, not things we have to do. The one thing it tells us to do is right here: wake up and shine! To be quite honest, that’s appropriate at this moment, because I still feel half asleep! However, the things God wants to do for us are so wonderful as to make us think we’re dreaming! That said, spiritual alertness is important. Jesus tells us to be awake and alert for His return. That said, much of the Church could be said to be spiritually asleep, paying attention only to the material world around them. The thing is, we aren’t material beings who happen to have spirits, we are spiritual beings who inhabit, for a time, material bodies. We forget that most of the time, if we have ever realized it in the first place. It’s not that the material is unimportant, but that it is secondary to the spiritual. We can have perfect health and financial abundance, but if we are spiritually dead, it ultimately does us no good. Spiritual alertness is vital for our protection, because our enemy the devil is always out to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) We aren’t to be in terror of him, but rather confirm that we are submitted to God, so that we can indeed resist the devil to the point that he flees from us. (James 4:7) Those who have been to war know the importance of situational awareness. That is what this is about. Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly in spiritual warfare. However, if we are indeed alert, we have nothing to be afraid of, because the One who is in us is far greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

There are times when I am spiritually sleepy, just as I am physically sleepy now. I need to be aware of that, and let the Holy Spirit perk me up! This morning we have an interdenominational prayer meeting here from 7, which is why I’m up earlier than usual – even though my normal hours are shockingly early to some of my friends. I need to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to keep me fully alert to all He wants to do here, whether or not it directly involves me. I am the host, in more ways than one, and we need to have a welcoming environment for children of God, and particularly for the Spirit of God. However, the Bible and past experience tell me that He will enable it, if that is my heart, and I believe it is. God has plans for today, and I need to participate in them joyfully!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the privilege of hosting this prayer meeting once a month. May today’s session indeed accomplish everything You intend for it, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!