Week 444

Positive Post Sunday, August 31, 2025…. Week 444.  Keeping with the theme from last week of living a life guided by faith and from the heart, I’m reminded of Song of Songs 5:2, “I was sleeping but my heart was awake.” This verse is a poetic gem, rich with spiritual depth and personal resonance. It speaks to the mystery of living with a heart attuned to divine presence, even in moments of rest, silence, or uncertainty.

In the stillness of night, when the world slows and the body rests, the heart remains vigilant. This verse from Song of Songs captures that paradox beautifully—a soul at peace, yet spiritually alert. It’s the posture of one who lives guided by faith, whose heart beats not just with blood, but with longing, love, and holy awareness.

This isn’t just poetic, it’s profoundly practical. In a world that often numbs us with noise and busyness, cultivating a heart that stays awake to God’s whisper is a sacred discipline.

To live with an “awake heart” means:

• Spiritual Sensitivity: Even when life feels dormant, when answers don’t come, when prayers seem quiet, your heart remains open to God’s movement.

• Holy Readiness: Like the bride in Song of Songs, you’re prepared to respond when the Beloved knocks. It’s a life of watchfulness, not weariness.

• Faithful Presence: You carry your faith into every moment, even the mundane. Whether you’re on a bike ride, sharing a meal with family or simple sitting in quiet prayer, your heart listens for God.

Staying spiritually awake isn’t easy. Distractions, disappointments, and fatigue can lull us into spiritual sleep. But as Song of Songs 5:2 reminds us, even when we feel passive, our heart can remain active, alive with hope, love, and divine longing.

Jesus echoes this in Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He calls us to live with eyes open, hearts alert, and spirits ready.

Our prayer, reflections, writing, music and service to others are all born from a heart that stays awake to God’s call. Even in rest, we’re listening. Even in silence, we’re discerning. That’s the kind of faith that transforms not just our lives, but the lives of those around us.

How do you keep your heart awake and discerning, even when your body is asleep?

How does your heart listen for God in the most challenging or mundane times?