AWAKE!

Ehimwenma Fortune.

Inspired by The Holy Spirit.

"Stop sleeping!" Bunmi slapped my lap. I blinked and shoved her hand away. I read the expression on
Mum's face adjacent my direction and after she had communicated her thoughts, she closed her eyes
singing the chorus.
"Thou art worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory, honour and power, for thou hast created all things for thy
pleasure, they are and were created."
I was humming the melody with my eyes closed again only to be jolted by an arm. "Wake up! Stop
sleeping!"
"What's wrong with you?" I screamed in her face.
"You are sleeping!"
"You didn't tell me you had paralysis in the ears. You can't hear me singing?" My voice was mixed with
anger.
"James!" A thick, masculine voice called my name. I didn't respond, fixing my gaze on the little girl beside
me. "You saying your sister is deaf?"
"I think she is, Dad. I really think she is."
Mum had stopped singing the chorus.
"He was humming the song and I was hearing him until all of a sudden, he kept quiet." Bunmi defended.
"Is that what you came to do in today's prayer? Monitor my voice?"
"You were sleeping."
"Please shut -"
"James!" Mum's voice roared in my ears.
"Bunmi will not lie against you."
"Daddy -"
"Listen," He cut in immediately. "If she is saying it then it is true. You probably dozed off a little and she
had to ring you by tapping you."
"But Dad -"
"Listen!" He spoke emphatically this time. He had his black-covered Bible in his hands and his glasses on.
"You are supposed to be leading the family devotion yet, you are sleeping."
"But I was not -"
"James!" Mum had given me her last warning and I knew I had nothing else to say than silence.
"The only thing you do best is talking... Talking when you should be quiet. Talking when you should be
listening." Dad removed his glasses and dropped it on the table. "You are supposed to be taking these
devotionals but you are not even interested in doing them. You are supposed to be leading the family in
vigils and different prayers, but here you are, sleeping."
My heart was burning with fire and pain but I could say no words.
"We thought you'd be our hope when you went into the university. We had expectations," he looked at his
wife sorrowfully. She didn't look at him in return but he stared at her for a while. "We had expectations yet
you blew them all. You lived your life the way you wanted even though we tried. We tried bringing you up
in the name of the Lord -"
"But I'm saved. I am not an unbeliever -"
"No one is saying you're an unbeliever," Mum replied.
"That's what Dad's saying. Can't you hear him?"
"First, you say Bunmi is deaf. Now, you say your mother cannot hear. Who do you think has the real
problem? The both of them or you?"
Silence was my response.
He wore his glasses with a pitiful look. "I pray you change. Stand throughout the devotion."
I stood but God knows a fuming poison was burning in my heart, seeking expression. I shouldn't have
come home for the holiday. I should have stayed at school, alone in my room. If not for Dad's threats and
the fear of being hungry at school, I'd have stayed. I lost interest in everything He was saying. I heard him
quoting Bible verses, giving scenarios and reading from the manual before him. But I wasn't interested
anymore. I knew a lot of talks were going to spring out today. Must I be at home throughout today? No. I
didn't have to. I will go to John's place and stay there till evening. I will do my chores, have breakfast and
leave.
***
John wrapped me in his embrace.
"Brother!"
"John! I have missed you."
He released me to stare into my eyes with his sparkling eyes. "When you informed me that you were
coming, I really couldn't contain my joy."
I smiled. "Who would have known you would have such a moustache?"
He ran his fingers through his chin. "Forget that one." He turned inside, giving me room to follow Him. "I
didn't expect this much though."
"You looked like a baby even when you were Nineteen."
He turned abruptly. "Stop it, James. Please stop it."
I laughed and gently sat at the edge of one of the couches. I touched his wrist. "Anyone else home?"
He sat beside me. "No, everywhere is swept clean."
"Indeed." I chuckled. "How's been school?"
John was on a black round-neck top and a blue jean. He loved round necks since we were much younger, I
could remember that. His wrists had brown beads in one and a watch in the other. I preferred mine bare
except if I wanted to wear a watch. John's parents were well to do and we were childhood friends till we
matriculated. Social media was not strong enough to bridge the gap between us and to bind us together. I
could see his chin and the little scar he had when we were playing about a decade ago. I was chasing him
and he was running as fast as he could but he wasn't as fast as he should be to evade me gripping him.
"It's been a whole different experience for me..."
As he continued to narrate his experiences, thoughts and memories mixed with his words and the combo
was an irresistible mix.
"Before this previous semester, I had never been this busy. Classes to attend, meetings, prayers for myself,
books to read, church programs to attend, there were so many things I needed to do. Most nights, I felt
unfulfilled."
"Just like I always did," I chipped in.
"Sometimes, with my back laid down on the bed, I'd remember some things I didn't do. I would remember
things I could have done well and other things I did terribly. It was hard to sleep most nights but I had to."
"Then I would wake up..." He paused to study my face. "Let me serve you rice."
I sighed. "Thank you, because I'm starving."
We laughed and he left for the kitchen.
I took the moment to study the living room nicely decorated. The living room was not too large but it was
beautiful. The walls were painted white with a different mix of Royal Blue chairs and gadgets that brought a
luxurious look. The curtains were Blue too and there were a few flowers around. He returned with two
plates and a wide smile.
"You know, the same look you always give when you were hungry never left you."
I tilted in shock. "Really? Was that what informed you?"
He laughed gently. "It's just a more mature look now. Your spouse needs to know that look. I'd show her
myself so she doesn't miss when you're hungry." He dropped the food before me while I stared, surprised.
He always spoke of a particular look I had when I was hungry but he never told me how my face would
look like. He only said he knew what the look was.
"I will bring her to you then," I grabbed the plate, unashamedly.
"She has arrived already?" He wore a terrifying look. I smiled at him and then laughed on seeing his face.
"No, not yet. But maybe in a few years." He took his seat beside me and smiled.
"I don't even have time for ladies," He said before he prayed and took a spoon from the meal. "I think
about a few from time to time but when I plan to do something serious, I just do not have time. And I do
not want to starve anyone with my absence."
"That's true. When you are not ready for one, it becomes a load. When you are ready, you will find her as a
necessary helpmate."
He thought for a few seconds. "So, what do you say?"
I ate another spoon. "I don't know... Wait till we are ready?"
He nodded and pointed his spoon at me. "That's it. I will wait then. But there are ladies I like, generally."
"You've always liked girls." I ate another spoon.
The shock on his face made me laugh, the grains in my mouth almost choking me.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean you've had a track... record. Should I name a few?"
He laughed and I joined in. We continued eating in silence until he looked up. "How's school too?"
I sighed and continued eating at a slower rate. I took another spoon and dropped the plate.
"It's not really fine as I wanted it to be. Something happened to my fire... my passion... my consecrations
and all. I've not been at my peak, to be honest, and it disturbs me. Dad and mum still complained about it
this morning. Their words pierced me but they were right. I've lost so many things I know I had..."
He dropped his plate on the table and turned in my direction with full concentration.
"I've lost my zeal. Deep down in me, I know there should be more but there is no desire to honestly labour
into more. I have tried forcing it but it is not there."
He looked away from me for a minute and then turned back, his right hand on my lap, the exact place
Bunmi had slapped this morning.
"What is your motive for pursuing God and seeking Him? What is your motive for denying yourself all the
pleasures and the things you can do with your time?"
"John... Aren't you going to ask how it happened?"
"I don't need to. I just need you to answer this question."
I sighed tiredly, staring at my plate of rice. "To love God, right?"
"You're asking me?"
I blushed. "Maybe."
"You do not have an expectation? A desire?"
"To be great?"
He shook his head. "You are not convinced yet and that is why you are not encouraged to labour more into
God."
"Okay..."
He adjusted and stared at the television opposite our direction. When he didn't speak, I turned to the
object of his gaze.
"James, what was God's purpose for creating man?"
I scrubbed my hair lazily. "To have dominion over the earth."
"Why did He create man in His image and likeness and why did He give them the power He gave them
over all other creatures?"
I paused to think. "He wanted people to rule the earth for Him."
"Exactly! He wanted to extend His rule. The glory of Kings is in the number of territories to conquer and
dominate. God created man to rule the earth so that the earth will be under his domain by His kids ruling
the place. Alright, you got that. Why did Jesus die on the cross?"
"To save us from sin, Matthew chapter 1 verse -"
"I know you know that. What was the main reason?"
I frowned. "What do you mean by 'main reason?'"
He smiled and looked into my eyes. "Jesus died to take away your sins so that you could be reconciled back
to the Father and made fit to be able to rule this earth for Him and extend His kingdom on earth.
Remember The Lord's prayer?"
"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
"If Jesus died only to save your sins, James, immediately you gave your life to Jesus, you will be raptured
into the heavens. But that's not all. That's just the first part of the assignment. God wants to use you to
bring Glory to Himself and His kingdom."
I listened attentively.
"Now, this was the Joy that Jesus saw when He was on the cross according to Hebrews 12:2. Jesus wanted
many 'Jesuses' to be on the earth and that's why he wanted to go. The disciples wanted him to stay but he
said it was better for him to go. Why do you think He said that?"
"As long as he remained, there could only be one Jesus at a time. He could not be everywhere at every
time. But if he left and the Holy Spirit came, the same Spirit which was in Him, helping Him do the great
works He did, He was rest assured that we could replicate His kingdom everywhere we go and dominate
the earth for Him."
Several dots were connecting in my head but I allowed him to speak.
"God understands His program and He is doing everything He is doing because of His Kingdom. He
equips you with Grace and giftings so you can bring Glory to Him. He equips you to do great things and
then bring Glory to Him. While you bring Glory to Him, you will also be lifted and glorified. The glory is
not for us, but we reap the benefits of glorifying God through our lives."
He paused and placed his right hand over my shoulder.
"If there is no motivation that engineers your labour, you will soon quit. You must find a real, solid and
ingrained motive that is in line with the scriptures and not based on your ambition. Seeking God because
you want to be great is a selfish ambition. But come that way. He will change your heart while you stay with
Him. You can come with any desire but God will have to correct your motive because we are not here to
bring glory or pleasure to ourselves. There is One we were made to serve and glorify."
I pondered and looked at his eyes. "What is your motive?"
"My motive?" He closed his eyes for a few seconds and opened them. "I want to bring glory to the Name
of the Lord. I want men to see my good works and glorify my Father in Heaven. I want men to see my
light and my life, to see my results and to know that they are only happening because God is with me. And
when they try to give me praises, I turn them again, back to The Lord and point my fingers at Him, saying,
He is the One that did it."
"Just as men vow to themselves that they will unashamedly go all in for the devil, to advance his course and
propagate his name, I have made the same decision. I'll pay any price it takes for God to be manifested
through my body. When lustful thoughts come, I'll remind myself of my desire. I want to be that vessel
through which God will find expression. I want to be that vessel that God can use and move through, that
God can change lives through. That's my greatest desire and obsession and that's why I do everything I
do."
"No one does nothing for nothing. The reason why you go to school is to get a degree to earn money with.
The reason why you learnt that skill is so that you could be making money from it. The reason why your
parents are training you even when they are hungry is because they are investing in you and when they are
old, they expect you to begin to take care of them. Having this mindset is the right kind of mindset. It is
not a bad mindset. It is the nature of God."
"Jesus said, any branch in me that does not bear fruit, My Father will pluck out. Why did God put you, as a
branch, in Jesus, the tree? So you can get benefits and nutrients from the tree. But the nutrients and
benefits are to ensure you bear fruits that others can eat from. Jesus always told us that whatever you do in
secret, God will reward you in the open. God rewards our faithful service. Pray in secret, God rewards in
the open. Hebrews 11:6 explains that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Galatians
explains that in due season, we will reap if we faint not."
"God does not scam people. He is not asking you to sacrifice just for sacrificing sake. He has rewards for
you. And just like Jesus, if you fix your eyes on the rewards and the Joy, you will endure any cross and
despise every shame."
***
He was taking the devotional again and I stared at him intently. I heard him speak the words of life and I
soaked every word in. My heart was fired up after yesterday's meeting. I stared at Mum and she was awake,
listening. I heard a slight snore and as I turned to my side, Bunmi was asleep. She had her head bent down
with the Bible on her lap. I moved my hand behind her back and touched her gently and she immediately
began moving her legs.
I turned forward and smiled, realizing the only thing that kept me awake was the motivation in my heart.

Thank you for reading.

God bless you.

Ehimwenma Fortune is a lover of God who believes biblical truths and principles can be taught through
writing. He is a teacher of God’s Word, a writer, and an engineering student in the Federal University of
Technology, Akure (FUTA). He is a man who loves helping people meet their spiritual needs and solve
their problems. He has authored a few books like, Delayed Justice, Two sides of Faith and Un-doomed,
and still keeps writing as long as there are souls to keep reading. He loves reading, writing and talking to
people; all of which provide him ideas for writing. He has decided to leave the world with several stories
that will point them back to following God’s Word.

You can reach him via:

Facebook: Fortune Ehimwenma Whatsapp: +2349039603496

Email: [email protected]

Please, I will be expecting your comments, review and suggestions about this story.

Thank you.

© July 2024