Romans 13:11-14 — (adapted)
Wake up! Salvation draws nearer to us now than when we first believed. Consider this: you are aware of the times in which you live. It’s time to wake up and see what lies right before your eyes. Don’t let the demands of daily life consume you to the point of losing track of time and becoming oblivious to God.
The night has ended; dawn approaches. Stay alert to what God is doing! He is bringing to completion the work of salvation that began when we first placed our faith in Him. As darkness fades and the light of dawn arrives, shed your old life and put on the armor of light. We cannot afford to waste a single minute or squander these precious hours in frivolous pursuits and indulgences.
Let honorably and steer clear of patterns associated with darkness. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t linger; instead, clothe yourselves in the Lord Jesus and get moving.
Salvation draws nearer than it ever has. This is no time for spiritual sleep. The night is fading—dawn approaches. Wake up! Rise. Clothe yourselves in Christ. The trumpet of Scripture resounds with clarity, not suggestion.
Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14
But waking looks different for each heart. Some rise in fire, ready to speak, move, and act. Some wake quietly, letting tears fall as the Spirit stirs within them. And some need to stretch first, shaking off doubt, breathing in mercy.
All are valid, all are welcomed, and all are called.
The Spirit whispers urgently; it’s not just a call to strive, but a call to stay alert, dressed, and ready. Salvation is approaching—not only for us personally but also collectively. What we ignite within must spread outward.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Let's make the most of the sacred hours we've been given. Whether we whisper prayers or shout in worship, whether we notice God’s beauty in the petals or in the broken pavement, we rise together.
Because the Church isn’t just being roused—it’s being restored.
We are here to shine brightly this season, reflecting the light and love of Christ in everything we do. So come fully, passionately, gently, in any way God has guided you.
Let’s chase our divine purpose! We will put aside apathy and distractions, stay alert to avoid cultural numbness, and keep our spirits awake to fulfill our true calling.
Abba, awaken us—not just to activity, but to You.
Clothe us in Christ. Strengthen what remains. Help us radiate Your light as the day approaches. Forgive our faltering steps and envelope us in Your mercy.
Plant Your truth deeply within us and transform us from the inside out. May our lives serve as morning lamps for others still caught in the night. Let us live alert, dressed in readiness, as vessels of light and grace.
Shine through hearts awakened to You—in this generation and the next. In Jesus’ name, we ask. Amen.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1
