Wake up and do right by your heart and soul

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

— Mark 14: 30 (NIV).

My granddaughter often shares with me what’s happening with the animals on their farm in northern Illinois.

I love to hear about the antics of the barnyard animals and the creativity born into the personality of each one as they display our creator’s intended purpose for them in the world.

Each morning, the red rooster uses his song to give his master and barnyard friends a wake-up call.

I enjoy how, in the Gospels, Jesus uses the rooster’s call to let one of his disciples know it was time for him to wake up. Proceeding Christ’s crucifixion, he informed Peter that before the rooster crowed twice, Peter would deny Jesus three times. Peter assured Jesus this would never happen.

Shortly after this conversation, Jesus was arrested. However, when confronted by authorities and others who asked Peter if he knew Christ, Peter was caught up in his fear.

As Jesus predicted, Peter did in fact deny knowing him. His words ran through Peter’s mind as he listened to a faint rooster revelry playing in the distance.

Denying who Christ was, Peter chose to go with the popular opinion of the crowd. How many times do we compromise our Godly morals because others do it, therefore denying Christ in our life?

Upon hearing that rooster crow, Peter realized what he had done and that it was time to wake up. He was protecting himself and had denied standing up for his Lord in the process. Peter was brokenhearted and sorrowful as he reflected on his incident.

It oftentimes takes struggle in our lives, or a broken heart, to wake us up to the reality of our own weaknesses, such as fear or pride, and turn ourselves to the one who can strengthen us in those areas.

However we are awakened each morning, be it the crowing of the rooster the sounds of an alarm clock, turning our day over to God by denying our wrong behavior and changing our actions will let Jesus know we won’t deny him anymore.

The decision to make right choices will refresh and restore our souls, and we will start to see his blessings flow in our life.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author of the book “Letters To A Friend,” speaker, life and writing coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com.