Sound The Alarm

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Posted by Martha Wilson, July 17, 2024

I must admit that I have been in the full swing of summer, enjoying late nights leading into late mornings. No alarms. No set agenda. Long mornings to spend time with God. Knocking out the stack of unread books.  Spontaneous visit with friends. Swim parties with the children. Freezers of homemade ice cream. Lazy afternoon naps and a few productive household projects. 

Last week I had to set the alarm to be sure I was up and ready on time for an important gathering with my sisters. The alarm had been unused for over a month, and I found it to be quite startling. It definitely got my attention as I quickly lept out of bed. There was no time to press snooze; I just woke up and got going. 

Rest, play, and relaxation are good, and I would even call them holy. They are a necessary and helpful part of life, but I find that when I allow them to hang around too long, I can become lazy, stagnant, and lethargic. I can fall asleep and grow callous about what is going on within and around me.

It reminds me of the state of the church and the world: Asleep. Unaware. Lethargic. Unfocused. Satisfied. 

Sunday, July 14, wasn’t just another Sunday. It was the day after our nation was shaken by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. I feel that everything shifted and changed forever. The call to prayer was plastered all over social media outlets, and our “Salt and Light” Sunday School class would not be excluded. Our leader invited us to circle around, hold hands, and pray for our nation, our church, and ourselves. The circle reached wide as many of us gathered. We pressed our bodies close to one another as we poured our hearts out to God, pleading for mercy, forgiveness, and one last chance.

Just as the prayers began, a phone sounded an alarm. It rang out incessantly, and no one dared to break the circle of prayer. It was grating, annoying, and interruptive. I wanted it to go away, just like my bedside alarm. 

Suddenly, it became a sign from God in my heart. As tears rolled from the edges of my awakened eyes, my spiritual ears heard His voice. “This is my alarm. I AM calling you, the church, to wake up. The hour is near. There is no more time to snooze. Get up and get ready. Cry out to me, and I will hear you and answer you.” 

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable 

things you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:3

We have ignored the signs that His word has shown us.

We have turned our eyes away. We have hidden our heads in the sand. We have grown weary and angry. In many ways, we have become unbelieving believers. 

Now is the time to awaken and call on God with all that is within us. This alarm calls us to arise and believe again that our God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do (Numbers 23:19). Will we repent for our nation? Will we declare God's goodness? Will we be His salt and light on the earth? 

Our circle of beautiful prayers continued, and eventually, the alarm subsided. 

The Lord sent me to His word and assured me what He was speaking. 

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand.” Joel 2:1

We don’t need anyone to tell us that we live in a world that is filled with hatred, disunity, and evil of every kind. The enemy is on a rampage as he knows that his time is running out. (Rev. 12:12) 

It’s past time to wake up! 

Joel 2:12-13 goes on to say, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

The Lord's alarm has awakened me, and I pray that this blog will be an alarm to awaken and stir all of us to cry out to God for our nation, our leaders, our churches, and ourselves. Let’s press in close together as the body of Christ, seek His face, and pray for one more great awakening in our land. 

Martha Wilson is a writer, speaker, blogger and co-host of A Burst of Hope weekly podcast. She is the founder and director of Touching Hearts Ministries for women. She has led women to pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus for most of her adult life. She is bold, tender, and transparent as she teaches women to embrace powerful Biblical truths. Martha and her husband, Ed, live in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoy their blended family of five children, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. You can connect with Martha at: Facebook and Instagram @TouchingHeartsMinistries or listen to the A Burst of Hope Podcast.