I awoke around 3 a.m. this morning to the gentle touch of Lisa's hand on my arm. I didn't think much about it at first. Lisa is a snuggler and likes to be close as we sleep at night. Then, I heard a light sniffle followed by a second and a third. I realized she was crying. I'll recount our conversation (with her permission) as best as I can remember it almost 5 hours later:
"Are you okay, baby?"
"Yes, I'm fine"
"What are you doing? You aren't getting sick are you?"
"No, I'm praying."
"You're praying? Are you crying?"
"Yes, God woke me up, told me to pray and, so, I'm praying."
"Praying for what?"
"You"
Being the spiritual giant that I am, the next question was a natural. "You couldn't do this in the day time...like when we are all awake."
"No! God told me to pray and I learned a long time ago when He tells me to pray, I pray."
"What are you praying about?"
"You. Every part of you. I prayed for your mind that God would help you take every thought captive. I prayed for your eyes that they would always seek God's way and see people as He sees them. I prayed for your mouth that He would keep it shut...(I think the pause was deliberate here) until He is ready for you to speak and has given you words..."
The next question I can only attribute to the fact that it was 3 o'clock in the morning and I was delirious from being awake before the sun. "You said you were praying for all of me. Did you pray for my rear end?" I chuckled a little at my own sense of humor. Her response silenced me.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I prayed that God would teach you to sit still and wait on him."

Do you understand now why I love this woman and feel so blessed to be beside her?

She makes me a better person. She sharpens me. She takes no crap (the Greek word here would be dunga) off of me and she gets me to thinking. Our conversation this morning reminded me of the warfare that we are in daily.

Ephesians 6 encourages all believers to be dressed for war--a spiritual battle that takes no breaks and offers no peace treaties. It is a war that rages around us every single second and will not end until the day Christ ends it.

So, how naked are you? As you begin this day (and every day henceforth) what are you doing for yourself and those you love to be sure they are dressed for the day ahead. Every morning, I kiss my kids and make sure they have homework, lunches, signed papers and other things they will need for school. I also make sure they are dressed for whatever the weather holds. Shouldn't I be doing the same for them as they walk out into the warfare that surrounds them every step of the way? Shouldn't you be doing the same?

I can honestly say that this was the first time I ever had someone pray for my rear end. But at least I know I'm covered. So, I ask again, as you begin this day, how naked are you?