Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11-12 NKJV)
Put on strength.
We don't have to purchase it, or generate it by prayers and resolutions, but
simply to put it on. As we awake in the early morning hour, and have to pass
out into the arena of life, which has so often witnessed failure and defeat, let
us put on the strength and might of the living Christ. He waits to strengthen
us with all power, according to the riches of His glory. Do not simply pray to
be kept and helped, but put on the whole armor of God. "The Lord is the
strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?"
Put on
beautiful garments. The metaphor of the life of the Christian soul is that of
the bridegroom or the bride decked with jewels; or a garden filled with
beautiful flowers (Isaiah 61:10-11). We are not only to do right things, but we
must do them beautifully; not only to speak the truth, but to speak it in love;
not only to give to those who need our help, but to do it graciously and
joyously. We must cultivate the bloom of the soul, which is made up of
compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, generosity. The beauty of the Lord
our God must be upon us.
We can't weave
these beautiful robes, or fashion them out of our own nature, but they are all
prepared for us in Christ, who is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption." Let us wake up out of sleep, put off the
works of darkness, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the armor of Light.
PRAYER
Lord of
power and love! I come, trusting in Your almighty strength, and Your infinite
goodness, to beg from You what is wanting in myself; even that grace which
shall help me to be, and to do, as You would have me. I will trust You, in whom
is everlasting strength. Be my helper, to carry me on beyond my own strength,
and to make all that I think, and speak, and do, acceptable in Your sight,
through Jesus Christ I pray, AMEN.
God's Daily Promise
Promise #269:
When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will be with
you.
Psalm 23:4 (WEB)
Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you
are with me.
Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
No comments:
Post a Comment