Pray for an Awakening

I think it’s safe to say that all of us would like to see a change in our society today.  We’ve heard it said that to see a change we must begin with ourselves.  Our world needs to wake up to the destruction going on around us, physically and Spiritually.  As we pray for our society to be awakened and to turn away from the evil that is going on today, we also need to pray that we are awakened as well. Our Bible Journaling Scripture today says, “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Ephesians 5:13-14 KJV)  The NASB 1995 version is a little more understandable, “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’”

Our world is walking in darkness, and many don’t see just how dark it is. Sin is seen as normal, Biblical standards are mocked, and dissension seems to be running amok.  Our Bible verse says that things become visible when brought out in the light.  Have you ever noticed that when you walk into a dark room and turn on the lights, the bugs run for cover?  That’s just the way our society is.  When we shine the light of God’s Word on their sin, they duck and run.  What about ourselves?  What do we do when the light of God’s Word shines on our sins?  Do we just shrug it off as if we are asleep, not aware of what is putting us on a path toward darkness?

Only the light of God’s Word can show just who we are at the very core.  The Bible, in Ephesians 5:11, says we are to reprove the sin we see in others, and I would add, ourselves as well.  To reprove is to convict.  In his commentary on Ephesians, J. Vernon McGee says that we are not to be reformers, but we are to reprove, and a Christian, “by the light of his life he is a rebuke to the works of darkness. Light reveals what the darkness conceals. Darkness is not driven away by preaching at it; darkness is dissipated by the presence of light.”  

So first, we should pray that our lives are such that the light of God is shining through, and others can see by our very actions, attitudes, and speech, that we belong to Jesus.  When we see sin in our own lives, we need to go to God and ask for forgiveness and determine to change.  When those of the world recognize God’s light in us, they will be convicted of their lifestyle. This will open the door for us to talk to them about asking Jesus to forgive them and be their Lord and Savior.  We are not to brow-beat them about their lifestyle, but with love, tell and show them that life with Jesus is better.

Secondly, we should be praying for those around us to be awakened to the darkness of this world.  We may have acquaintances who are walking in the path of ungodliness and are in darkness, not realizing just how dark the world around them truly is.  It is our responsibility to show them the LIGHT! Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and He wants to have a relationship with them.  We can show them just who He is and let them know just how much He loves them.  Our verse today says that when those who are asleep come out of the darkness, the light of Jesus will shine upon them.  As they see in the light of Jesus’ love, the darkness around them, they will be convicted of their sin.  We need to pray that they will turn from Eternal Death and walk in the light, accepting Jesus as Savior, and walking into Eternal Life. We need to pray for an awakening in their hearts to the Light.