Awakening to the Call

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone, the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” - Romans 13:11-14

I’m not sure how you felt after reading this verse. However, after reading it during my quiet time this past week, I felt a sense of urgency — a sense of urgency for both Christians and unbelievers.   sensed God nudging Christians to awaken to their spiritual call and a call of repentance for unbelievers.

Let me ask you this, has God been tugging on your heart recently? Has God awakened you to your purpose and you have yet to respond to the call? Has God called you to a life a repentance, but instead you continue to give into your flesh and pursue a life of sin? If so, my prayer is that by the time you finish reading this blog you are mobilized to begin walking in your purpose and that God draws you by His Spirit and transforms your heart so that you can begin living a life that is holy and pleasing to Him.

To my fellow Christians who haven’t responded to your spiritual call, it’s time for us to get serious about our Father’s business and expand His kingdom. God has called us to be the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16), to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45), to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31), and to speak up for those who are oppressed and ensure justice for those who have been treated unfairly (Proverbs 31:8). The same spirit that rested upon Jesus rests upon us. As a result, we have also been anointed by God to bring the Good News to the poor (Luke 4:18).

I’m not sure what may be preventing you from walking in your purpose as a Christian or God’s unique call for your life, but time is running out and the lives of others are depending on your obedience to God’s call. Maybe you don’t feel worthy because of your past. Perhaps fear is holding you back. Maybe you feel inadequate or disobedience is preventing you from doing so. Whatever the case may be, I encourage you to pray that God will help you to overcome the thing that is hindering you from being the vessel of faith, hope, and love that God has placed on this earth.

Lastly, to my brothers and sisters who haven’t responded to the call of repentance, time is running out for you as well. This is depicted in verse 12 of the passage above. It states, “The night is almost gone, the day of salvation will soon be here.” (In this verse, “night” refers to the present evil time, and “day” refers to the time of Christ’s return.) Don’t allow the things of this world, which bring about temporary pleasure and fulfillment, to distract you from the big picture — eternity.

I’m sure you may have sensed God urging you to turn from your addictions and bad habits. Don’t ignore this feeling — God’s spirit convicting you; God desires to save you. He loves you and desires to have a relationship with you. Don’t believe the lies of the enemy that you have to have everything together before you come to God or that you are not worthy of His love. If this were the case, God would not have sent a Savior, Jesus, to die for our sins. We also know that the latter is a lie of the enemy, because Romans 8:38-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

 So I encourage you today (because tomorrow is not promised) to give your life to God. Pray this prayer with me…

“God, I thank you for this day. I come before you asking you to forgive me for my sins and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I surrender all and invite you to come into my heart. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead so that I, too, could overcome death and live in eternity with you. I declare today that I am saved and ask you to walk with me daily, showing me how to live a life that is pleasing to you. Thank you, God, for saving me. In Jesus' name, amen!” 

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, I am so excited for you and can assure you that you just made the best decision of your life! I also encourage you to get plugged into a church and to surround yourself with other believers who can help you take next steps in your new journey of faith. Lastly, if you would like additional prayer, please reach out to me via the contact form found in the contact tab.

I felt led to write this blog, because I was awakened to the call on my life after hearing Christine Caine preach at T.D. Jakes’ Megafest conference in August. After hearing her message entitled, “Our Spiritual Call,” I felt led by God to purchase her two books — Unstoppable and Undaunted. I am so glad I was obedient and purchased these books, because God continued to speak through them over the past two months — convicting me, challenging me, stirring my spirit, and awakening me to my spiritual call. Because of this encounter, I now have a renewed sense of purpose and have made the decision to answer the call on my life. If you were one of the individuals, before reading this blog, who made a decision not to respond to the promptings of God’s call on your life or to become saved, I pray that you will not only awaken to the call, but join me in taking the next step and respond!

Blessings,

Imanne

Mediation Scriptures:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“Awake, O Sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.  So be careful how you live.  Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:14-16

” And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind the will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the faith you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

“My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9