Rise and Shine

Many of you are familiar with the morning greeting of Rise and Shine. Basically it's a call to get up out of the bed and get started with your day. However, this phrase also has spiritual meaning for us during this season. The 60th chapter of the book of Isaiah says, "Arise, Shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee". Saints, whether we're fully conscious of it or not, as the elect and chosen of God, we are about to Rise and Shine!

There's a Shift that God is making in the earth even as we speak. We may not be able to discern or detect it fully in the natural, but in the Spirit realm, God is making some major changes. One of the main things that He's setting up right now is the Division that He's going to make between Light and Darkness. The days of straddling the fence are over. The times of resting in spiritual luke-warmness have ceased. There's going to be a major distinction of whose side you're on. Either you're on the Lord's Side or you are not.

Jesus makes it clear that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5). But He also adds that you can't hide a light under a bushel, and that salt that has lost its savor is good for nothing. The times of us walking as "dimly lit" Christians are over. Its time for the citizens of the Kingdom to Rise and Shine. The scripture also exhorts us to walk as children of light (Ephesians 5). This Light that God is exhorting us to walk in is the Glory of God. There is a Glory that God is ready to bestow upon His people that will radiate the Glory of the Father and make His Kingdom a reality on earth as it is in Heaven. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you ready to receive this Glory? Are you ready to walk in the Light of the Lord?

We must also understand that once we Rise and Shine, we will become primary targets of the kingdom of darkness. Remember, as soldiers in the army of the Lord, we are in a War. A War that is designed to advance the Kingdom of God and to take the territory of the Devil (Ephesians 6). We cannot shirk from this. We must understand that God is with us and He is prepared to fight our battles (2Chronicles 20). So as the Lord commanded Joshua, Be Strong and of Good Courage (Joshua 1). In order to secure the Victory, all we have to do is Rise and Shine.