Living life among hubris-laden humanity is a tedious thing. Not at all like the rivers of living water or kingdom-authorized living promised to us by Jesus Himself.

We know that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, yet it appears that pride and its cousin, unbelief, are typically invisible chains felt but not discerned. The longer I wrestle with this and feel its effects on those around me, the more my soul cries out: how long can this go on? Must we continue to endure the half-light of gospel words, shallowly understood and lived with conviction equal to toast soaked in a bowl of warm milk?

Recently, I have heard the heart cry of the Father to our church expressed as "wake up," and I think it signals not the gentle nudge of "wake up my little darling" but the shout of, stir yourself, arm yourself, get fully awake, alert, and oriented to the situation at hand. It is the invitation to join the great battle with principalities and powers afoot at our door and throw off the desire to keep warm and unaware of adventures that await the humble in heart.

I have heard a call to wake up, which I must do. How about you? What have you heard from our beloved, and what is your answer to Him? I'm willing to bet my life that there are mountains to still be taken, promised lands to be owned wholly, adventures in God to be had, kingdoms to be subdued, and great victories to be won. And I would rather have a victor's crown to cast at the feet of Jesus than a well-worn pillow with no stains of intercessory tears on it.

Each of us has the power to become fully alive in Christ. The cry has gone out from His throne room, the invitation given to fix our eyes on Him. If you stir yourself from slumber, go into a private prayer place throughout the day, seek out others who are awakening, and find ways to provoke one another to love and good deeds. Shake off the things that put you into pride or unbelief. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and in due time, He will lift you up.

— George Davis