Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.……Romans 13:11
And each day we wake up it will be even closer. It’s so easy to be filled with dread looking at the news. Looking around, it might be easy to forget that Jesus already won the victory over this place, but He did. Each day we wake up we have another opportunity to wake up in the newness of remembering that victory, or wallowing in the defeat we see in the world. No doubt, events in the world are daunting today. Sometimes we get numb in the face of it all. Desensitized. How else can we deal with it? We can’t stop living after all.
But there is one thing we can do. We can wake up to our victory.
Sometimes awakening to the victory around us is as simple as fighting the battle in our own minds. Sometimes it’s as simple as putting on some Praise music with great lyrics…..before we know it we are moving about, going forward with our day, brimming with the joy we found elusive just an hour ago. You see, we are in the daily Presence of a King who sits on the throne. The one in our hearts, and the one in Heaven. We don’t serve a dead King but a risen Savior. When we take in His words, He rejoices with us!
While Easter is all about remembering that victory and looking forward to a glorious future. Christmas is about remembering how He came to an earth riddled with strife, violence and political unrest, just like it is today. He came as Prince of Peace. He came as what the world needed most, but most didn’t recognize Him then either. That didn’t stop Him from doing what He came to do.
One of the best scenes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (in my opinion) was when Gandalf, Aragorn and company arrive in Edoras to summon help from King Theoden. They find him slumped on his throne, a shadow of the King he has once been due to listening to the dark words of defeat whispered by Grima Wormtongue.
Gandalf faces down ‘ol Wormtongue and, then a spiritual battle ensues where Gandalf throws the spirit of Saruman out of King Theoden. In the film, you see the battle take place in the heart and mind of the King and the resulting transformation as he rises to answer the summons for help. Gandalf helped him remember who he was.
It’s a stunning piece of work.
The hour is late. Over and over again the Bible tells us to wake up from our slumber.
The hour is late, but it’s still not too late.
“But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5: 13,14
Lori's Prayer Closet 
My daddy used to comfort me by saying, “It all will look better/be better/ in the morning.” What a connection that was to our sweet Lord who is the light — and what just a single, tiny flicker of light can do to darkness. We need to own that Victory — .
Great post.
Note: I haven’t seen those LOTR movies. Yes. I am that lame. 🙂
Oh Harriet, you are such a blessing, and though you may not know it you give me hope. It’s so apparent when you write of your family, your dear folks especially that you were close to them. I am sure, as close as I am with mine. It gives me hope to know life does go on down here while we are all waiting to gather together again “up there.” Thank you for that, it means so much. Mine are 85 and 86 and I feel their departure so very close and yet I hope “selfishly” they live another 5 years, but only if they feel good. I love your Daddy’s saying—and I have found his wisdom to be true. It’s just the kind of thing my parents still tell me! Love and blessings to you dear! Lori