A great awakening is happening among believers in Christ. Can you feel it? Can you sense it? I can. It is there.

The sense of dissatisfaction in our life is waking us up. Some will blame the economic or political situations, work, family, marriage, or church life. You name it, it will receive the blame. In truth, it is a spiritual hunger. People are looking for significance, for belonging, for freedom, for unconditional love, for joy, for peace. All things found in Christ, yet we seem to be missing out on them. How can that be? There has to be more to this life than a 9 to 5 job and living for the weekend. Can you sense it?

We have missed out on living the abundant life. There must be more to Christianity than going to church and having a “feeling” during praise and worship. More than going to service on a Sunday. More than smiling and greeting others in a new outfit, looking for a compliment. More than saying, “Yes, I am fine. How about you?” when our world is crashing down around us. More than showing up when we can and “volunteering” if we want. More than patting ourselves on the back and feeling like we “did something” good. We know there is so much more. Why can’t we find it? How could we have missed it? How could I have missed it?

Perhaps, the sense of missing out on something is the first indication there is a problem and we need a change. We focus entirely too much on ourselves. Our feelings, our wants, our desires, our comfort, our circumstances, our happiness, other’s opinions and accolades. Eventually, it all becomes pointless. It is overwhelming…it is hard to keep up the façade. It gets depressing. We know it shouldn’t be this way. We know we are missing “it”, we just aren’t sure what the “it” is. We just sense there is something wrong. This is the longing…the hunger for something deeper…it is the awakening!

John 10:10 (NASB) says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

I want it. Not just life, but abundant life. A life of fullness. A life of grace, peace and joy. A life that Jesus came to give us if we choose Him. It has been promised to us, but we often miss it. Not because we don’t want it, but because we mistakenly believe we will get it regardless of how we live and the choices we make. In a previous post I gave a definition of Faith. It isn’t just believing on Jesus as our Savior. Faith is never-ending. It is a day by day choice. The choice starts with knowing and obeying God’s Word.

John 12:24 -26, NASB
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

Back to the awakening. There must be more, right? Of course there is, but to have it we must die. John 12:24 says life, comes from death! Jesus death brought life to many (Romans 5:18-19). Mark 8:34 says we have to deny ourselves, take up our cross (a Roman symbol of death), and then follow Him. Do you get it? The awakening is when you finally start to understand it is not about you. The awakening is when you realize the “more” that you are after can only be found in surrender…in death to self. Not just any death, but a willing death. A death where you carry your own cross. A death where you crawl on the altar as a sacrifice willingly (Romans 12:1). Not just one time, but day after day after day…

When the awakening happens to us there is only one real choice to make. When will we fully surrender? When will we stop making excuses? Are you ready for abundant living? Then be thankful for the awakening and make the choice…