“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
Are you thriving or spiritually stagnant? Does the fresh water seem to flow through you or has it stopped flowing? When you see the person in the mirror, do you see overflowing joy or see emptiness of joy? Often, routines of life can become very dry even in comfort. Here, we seek to find something that will stir up the stagnant soul and awaken us to a greater dream.
Something from within us desires to experience our full potential and full capacity to a wonder that would capture our total being. However, in reality, we fine ourselves in spiritual darkness. What do you think can grip our being and make us feel fully alive?
The answer is when the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:6) that fills every dark chambers of our hearts, will awaken us to wonder. Isaiah commanded the Israelites to “Arise,” and “Shine” because the glory of the Lord was rising upon them. Here, we must fully understand what it means to allow the light to shine. Read carefully Isaiah 58:10.
Isaiah 58:10 says, “if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” I believe the way you come out of spiritual darkness is to let the light of the glory of God rise from your heart by living to serve the poor and the oppressed. Please understand that when you spend your life for the sake of others, you will thrive.
During a staff meeting, Pastor Jaemo shared with me that my daughter Madison wrote on the back of her JCS praise report “Am I willing to die for Jesus?” My life prayer for my children is for them to have compassion for the poor and the lost. When I heard the courage of my daughter asking a real and hard question in life, it brought tears to my eyes. I believe she is starting to understand how to arise and shine the glory of the Lord.
Furthermore, Isaiah says, “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Not only will you thrive but come to know your full potential and capacity of impacting others more than you have ever dreamt about. John Piper said, “Joy in Christ thrives on being shared.”
Last week, Janice came over to our house and shared with my wife and me what her father did to encourage her to be steadfast in prayer for her House Church members. Her father, noticing her discouragement, poured oil on her head and prayed that she would receive divine strength to pray more fervently for her House Church members. Her father knew where the source of strength and power laid. What an incredible father!
Pray this partial prayer by a pastor named Rick, and desire to arise (transcribed via audio):
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the trinity, through belief in three-ness, through the confession of one-ness to the creator of creation…
I arise today to the strength of Christ’s birth, His baptism, through the strength of His crucifixion with His very own, through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom…
I arise today to the strength of heaven, the light of sun, radiance of moon, splendor of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, in depth of sea, stability of earth, and firmness of rock.
I arise today to God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eyes to look before me, God’s ears to hear me, God’s Words to speak for me, God’s hands to guide me, God’s ways guide before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me from spears of devils, from temptations of oasis…
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils. Against black laws of pagan-doom, against all onslaughts of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of witches and spirits and wizards, against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today against poison…against wounding, so that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me
Christ before me;
Christ behind me
Christ in me
Christ beneath me;
Christ above me
Christ on my right;
Christ on my left
Christ when I lie down
Christ when I sit down;
Christ when I arise…
Let us lift up our hands to heaven
We arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of trinity
Through belief in three-ness, through the confession of one-ness
To the creator of creation
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Shout to the Lord!
Pastor Tae
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