Rise & Shine

 

We spend 1/3 of our life sleeping. That’s 1/3 of our life in an unconscious state. When we think about that we might get an overall feeling that we’ve wasted allot of time, but the reality is, that we need that time in order to live.

A third of our life is spent allowing our bodies to rejuvenate and heal. During that time of rest there is restoration, rejuvenation and revitalization.

Why? So that we can LIVE our lives to the fullest capacity. So that we can shine.

We plug in our phones, we charge our batteries and we rest our bodies so that all can function to the best of their ability.

What about the other two thirds of time in our lives? What do we do with that part of our life? Are we living that part unconsciously too? Most people have the same reaction when they hear how much we sleep in our lifetime; “All that time wasted asleep!”

The thing we really have to ask ourselves though is “are we wasting our time awake?”  When we rise each day where do we invest that new rejuvenated energy? What do we hope to accomplish with our restored and revitalized selves?

When we rise do we shine?

Look at Isaiah 60

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.

For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.”

 

Do we put our feet on the ground each day simply to rise, or do we shine our light for all to see? Do we wake up each day with a prayer in our heart that in some way, shape or form we will be able to reflect Gods light into the world?

Isaiah 60 continues in saying

“All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.”

All nations will come to our light? What does that mean?

People are drawn to the light of God.

Who are mighty kings? These are people that usually aren’t easily impressed. Mighty kings (people not easily impressed) will come to see your radiance.  Yes YOUR radiance.

You might think that you don’t have much to offer to the world, but you would be very wrong in thinking that. 

You might say WHAT radiance? When you woke up this morning the only radiance you might have had is the pain radiating out of your joints and muscles.

Isaiah 60 is about the restoration of Israel; the restoration of a people who had been in exile. They were exiled because they had spent their waking hours asleep. They lived their lives unconsciously, no longer with an awareness of their almighty God.

As you read Isaiah 60 in its entirety, it’s like watching a flower slowly bloom. People are returning. Darkness is fading. The light is slowly dawning; much like the waking moments of our mornings.

In the lines of Isaiah 60 we see healing and new life; much like the cells of our body after a good night sleep. Regeneration and hope for a new day cover each line of scripture in the same way our waking hours should cover our lives.

Do we wake with only the goal to rise or do we set our sights on shinning?

Vs. 19 “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
    nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.”

We may wake with achy bones. We might start each day feeling like our light isn’t as bright as it should be, but if we look at vs. 19 we realize something. It’s God that is our everlasting light and glory. It’s in Gods strength and will that we can shine a light into the world for all to see.

God did not just restore the people of Israel for the sake of restoration. He restored His people for a purpose.

Vs. 22 “The smallest family will become a thousand people,
    and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.
    At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

The restoration of Israel was meant to grow a people for a purpose. Through the power of God these people were to bring the hope of our Heavenly Father into the world. Gods people would ultimately influence this broken world and bring healing to others.

You were not created to rise each day just for the sake of rising. You are not restored each night just for the sake of restoration. You are restored for a purpose.

Each day you have the ability to SHINE. Each morning you have a choice when you put your feet on the ground. You have a choice to go into each new day casting light into the world.

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.

For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.”

Call that friend. Help that neighbor. Write that card. Pray that prayer. Smile at that stranger. Share that hope. Encourage that person. Be that light.

 

Rise and SHINE!

 

-Pastor Patti