Awake & Aware
I almost missed it! A few years ago, I was sitting in my living room watching a movie with my family after a long day. I had worked hard, checked off my to-do list, helped with dinner, and finally plopped down on the couch. The next thing I knew… I had dozed off. I missed the best part of the movie—the moment everyone was talking about. I was there, but not really there.
Spiritually, we do the same thing. We check all the boxes. Show up to church. Pay the bills. Smile at the right moments. But somewhere along the way, we drift. We become absorbed in obligations and exhausted by routine. And if we’re not careful, we can fall asleep spiritually—present, but unaware. Around, but not awake.
Romans 13:11 is a wake-up call. “But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” – Romans 13:11 (MSG) In other words, Paul is urging us: Don’t sleep through the season God has you in. Don’t be oblivious to His presence.
3 Ways to Stay Spiritually Awake:
1. Assess Your Attention
It’s easy to let distractions dominate—social media, work stress, even good things like serving or family can crowd out space for God. Take time to ask, Where is my attention going? If you never give God your full attention, you’ll miss the moments He’s speaking.
2. Adjust Your Agenda
Our schedules reveal our priorities. Are you making time for what matters most? Slow down. Carve out space for stillness, prayer, worship, and community. God doesn’t want to just be squeezed into the margins of your life—He wants to lead it.
3. Awaken Your Awareness
God is always moving—sometimes we’re just too busy or burdened to see it. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of His presence in the ordinary. Pay attention to the people He places in your path and the quiet nudges in your heart. Don’t sleep on your assignment.
If any part of this spoke to you, pause with me for a moment. Let’s invite God into this space and ask Him to awaken our hearts:
God, wake me up. Forgive me for letting routines and responsibilities dull my spiritual awareness. Help me not to sleepwalk through this season. I want to live alert, intentional, and sensitive to Your presence. Open my eyes to see what You’re doing in and around me. Teach me to slow down, to pay attention, and to stay aligned with Your voice. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Make It Personal:
Don’t just read—respond. Take a few minutes to reflect and write down your answers to these questions:
Where am I most distracted or overwhelmed right now?
Is my attention more on my tasks or on God’s presence?
What’s one thing I can adjust in my schedule this week to re-center spiritually?
Let this be your reminder: You were made to live awake, aware, and aligned with the Spirit.
Comment below with your takeaway or prayer request. Or share this with a friend who could use a spiritual wake-up call today.
