Wake Up!

Drowsiness -- It comes at the most inopportune times. My eyelids seem so heavy, I struggle to concentrate, and time practically comes to a halt. Sleep seems so inviting. A recent trip to the United Kingdom and Central Europe left me, at times, struggling to stay awake -- especially after meals!

Drowsiness is a good sign, telling us that we need sleep, or telling us that we need exercise. If not heeded, we fall asleep in the wrong places. Yielding to drowsiness can be as trivial as napping in a meeting and jerking awake with a little drool on our lips; or as serious as falling asleep while driving, causing injury or death. As an emergency physician, I often treated patients who did not attend to the signs of sleepiness while driving.

What about spiritual drowsiness? I fear we Christians "nod off" quite often. Spiritual drowsiness can be a common symptom among us. The consequences are never trivial. The apostle Paul tells us that we are at war, and we need to have alertness as well as armor for the battle. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV) Our weapons and armor are of little value while we sleep.

This week, as we step out into battle each day, let us be watchful, known for our alertness rather than drowsiness!

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." (I Thessalonians 5:6 NIV)

Sharing the journey with you,