Every Breath I Take

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

            Your heart beats around 100,000 times each day. Your body has about 6 quarts of blood. This 6 quarts of blood circulates through the body three times every minute. In one day, the blood travels a total of 12,000 miles—that's four times the distance across the US from coast to coast. When was the last time you thanked God for one of those heartbeats?

            You take approximately 23,000 breaths every day. The process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide is a complicated respiratory task that requires physiological precision. We tend to thank God for the things that take our breath away. And that's fine. But when was the last time you thanked God for one of your breaths?

            Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. They are sophisticated trash collectors. Every day, your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom. When was the last time you went to the bathroom that you thanked God that your “plumbing” works?

            Your eyelids blink about 10,000 times each day (assuming about 8 hours of sleep). We have to blink to cleanse and moisten the eye. Each time the eyelids close, salty secretions from the tear glands are swept over the surface of the eye, flushing away small dust particles and lubricating the exposed portion of the eyeball. Our eyes are always forming tears. The blink wipes them away and protects and cleans the eye. When was the last time you thanked God for one of those “cleanings”?

            You have roughly 1.6 trillion skin cells. Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour - about 1.5 pounds a year. By 70 years of age, an average person will have lost 105 pounds of skin, but it’s not the best way to plan on losing weight. Humans shed and re-grow outer skin cells about every 27 days - almost 1,000 new skins in a lifetime. When was the last time you thanked God for the protection your skin gives… and continues to give day in and day out?

The average human mouth produces about two liters of spit every day. Our salivary glands, which are located on the inside of each cheek, at the bottom of the mouth and under the jaw at the front of the mouth, churn out about two to four pints (one to two liters) of spit every day. Saliva contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes. Saliva keeps your mouth moist and comfortable and helps you chew, taste, and swallow. It fights germs in your mouth and prevents bad breath. It also has proteins and minerals that protect tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay and gum disease. When was the last time you thanked God when you smelled or saw something good to eat and your mouth began to water?

            Giving thanks should be as natural as all the ways our bodies were designed to work by God. But, unlike all these things, thanksgiving is not involuntary. It is an intentional act of worship. The more we know about God and His world (which includes the way He created us), the more we find to praise Him. Whether we do so is a moment by moment decision we make. May the Lord bring to our minds and hearts a thankful spirit with every breath we take.

     

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) ¹⁶  Be joyful always; ¹⁷  pray continually; ¹⁸  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV)  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 2:7 (NIV)  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

PRAYER:  Father, increase in me an attitude of appreciation and thankfulness to you in all things. Each time I learn something new, may it become an occasion for gratitude. I do not take for granted the wondrous way you have created me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

So That Others May Keep Them

John 15:13 (NIV)  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

            Ever since reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings in college, I have picked it up again every five to ten years or so. It is on my list of top five favorite books. I read something in the last chapter yesterday that caught my attention and gave me something to think about. The main character, Frodo (an “insignificant hobbit”), along with his closest friend Sam, has been back in his homeland for a short while after having been away doing great and perilous deeds which, in effect, saved their world of Middle Earth from great evil and ruin. Wars had been fought, many lives had been lost, and great deeds of courage had been done. But the time came for Frodo to leave Middle Earth, much to the grief of Sam. Through his tears Sam expresses how he had hoped Frodo would enjoy the Shire – their homeland – for many years. It is Frodo’s response that struck me:

“So I thought too, once. But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.”

            Tolkien had personally experienced the horrors of war in the trenches in Europe in World War I. He understood all too well the sacrifice soldiers make for those they leave behind. He saw death firsthand and knew that some gave up their homes, families, jobs, communities, friends, and much more when they went to war. They went because those things were in danger. They sacrificed comfort, safety and – in many cases – their own lives because what they loved and cared about was in danger. Such is the calling of the soldier. Our own nation has been served faithfully by hundreds of thousands who understood and made this sacrifice – losing that which they left behind so others could keep them. Veterans Day is a day to honor, recognize, and give thanks for those who have served our nation. May the Lord bless them with His love and grace.

            Jesus, in teaching His disciples that God’s will for them is to love one another, described the greatness of a life sacrificed for another person. He said there was no higher form of love. And Jesus did much more than talk about love. That in itself is a great example to us. It is easy just to talk about love. But true love always costs us something as we place the needs of another at a higher level than our own. Jesus placed our need for forgiveness of sin above His remaining at the Father’s side. He knew we lacked the righteousness that the Father requires for us to be in fellowship with Him, so He took upon Himself human flesh and lived His life without any sin. And in His death on the cross His righteousness became a gift to men. You could say that Jesus gave up the “comforts” of heaven, if you will, so that others may have them and keep them for all eternity. We are those “others”, and now we live to glorify Him and walk in His love. His grace has done it all, and His work for us is glorious.

Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV) ¹  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

PRAYER:  Father, I praise you for the humility and grace of your Son, Jesus. It amazes me that I am the object of His love. I glorify you for the perfections and wonders of your plan, and for your gift of faith that I might be redeemed from my sin and have the hope of eternity with you. Have mercy upon our veterans and their families. Comfort them in sorrow. Make your love known to them. Give them peace. Meet their needs according to your grace. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

A God-Informed Optimism

John 8:10-12 (NIV) ¹⁰  Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" ¹¹  "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." ¹²  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

            What do the people whom Jesus healed, delivered from demons, reached out to, made a part of His group of disciples, forgave of sins, saved from death, comforted, and spent quality time with… have in common? Perhaps it is that they were broken people. Broken people have something in their bodies, minds, relationships, and/or souls that is messed up. It’s not the way God designed it to be. Sometimes they know they are messed up and broken. And in their pride or ignorance, sometimes they don’t. God (and His plan) is the measure of our brokenness. And… God and His plan alone can heal our brokenness and set us on a path of wholeness. This happens through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection for us and through the power of the gift of His Spirit to those who are objects of His love and grace. In God’s hands, what we see as broken has potential for wonderful transformation into what is beautiful and glorious in His sight.

Speaking about the power of Christ to redeem sinners and build his church, Russell Moore wrote the following in an early October blog: “The next Billy Graham might be drunk right now. The next Jonathan Edwards might be the man driving in front of you with the Darwin Fish bumper decal. The next Charles Wesley might currently be a misogynistic, profanity-spewing hip-hop artist. The next Charles Spurgeon might be managing an abortion clinic today. The next Mother Teresa might be a heroin-addicted porn star this week. The next Augustine of Hippo might be a sexually promiscuous cult member right now, just like, come to think of it, the first Augustine of Hippo was. But the Spirit of God can turn all that around. And seems to delight to do so. The new birth doesn't just transform lives, creating repentance and faith; it also provides new leadership to the church, and fulfills Jesus' promise to gift his church with everything needed for her onward march through space and time.”

            I don’t quote Moore in order to narrowly focus on a few particular sins. I do so because his thoughts woke me up when I read them. I need encouragement and hope regarding many people I know. This is a reminder to me to have an optimism informed by the power and love of God. It is easy for me to “write off” people as unchangeable or even “not worth the effort” of sharing the Gospel. I need to hear and heed Jesus’ words again: “… with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). The better I know the Lord… the closer I am to Him… the more my life should be characterized by a “Word-informed” and “Spirit-informed” optimism, especially when I think about broken people. My attitudes toward others have a direct correlation to my faith – or lack of faith – in the Lord. Jesus saw Paul (the named Saul) so differently than I would have. But He had a plan for Paul and worked in his life to bring it to completion. So in the end, my faith – my belief in what Jesus can, and will do – is tested by broken, messed up people. Do I believe in a God who can… or not?

            I pray we will have the joy of observing God’s transforming power in the broken people in our own lives, and may His glory shine brightly through them. AMEN.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 4:8-16 (NIV) ⁸  This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." ⁹  (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰  He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²  to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

PRAYER:  Father, if you can do for others what you have done for me, then wonderful things are in store for messed up people. Be glorified in the great things your love and grace accomplish in the lives of broken people. Build your church with people whom you are transforming. Increase my faith when I look at others, especially those who are unlikely in my own mind to become followers of Jesus. All the more glory for you. You are awesome! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Cats and Dogs

John 13:34 (NIV)  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

            In a recent scientific study it was determined that cats do not love their owners – at least not like dogs love their owners. The study - reported in Discover magazine October 1 – concluded…         

 “We’re pretty sure this post is going to be hated by all the feline fanciers out there, but this study is just too good not to share. Here, researchers applied a test developed for use with children to investigate the relationships between cats and their humans. The test can determine whether children, and apparently animals, view their caregivers as a source of safety in a threatening environment. It turns out that using this metric, dogs are “securely attached” to their owners, but cats are “not necessarily dependent on others to provide a sense of security and safety.” But that doesn’t mean their owners aren’t dependent on their cats for warm fuzzies in a crazy world!”

            This is probably not news to pet owners. Most of the cats I’ve known have a certain independent attitude and don’t mind isolation. Most dogs, I’ve observed, thrive on companionship and don’t seem to care much for isolation. They can get lonely, whereas cats don’t seem to mind being left alone. I don’t care to take a position on whether “cats rule and dogs drool” – or vice versa, but the difference is interesting.

            Some Christians are like cats: aloof and isolated. They think they don’t need community. In extreme cases they avoid church altogether. I believe such persons may actually be a different species than Christian. I do not think it is possible to be a Christian and isolate yourself from the people Jesus has made to be your brothers and sisters. Forced isolation can’t take the faith from you, but a self-imposed one communicates what you think of a Savior who created and loves His church.

            And some Christians are like dogs: hungry to share affection, loving, faithful, interactive, social, and not wanting to miss anything. In some cases they may come on too strong or be a bit insecure in themselves – perhaps even somewhat clingy. But the companionship drive is very strong and rewarding to both the owner and the dog, and the companionship drive, or fellowship, in Christ is very rewarding to believers.

            Human beings need both – alone time and fellowship. Married couples need both. And Christians need both. If you are isolating too much, and you have little or no interaction with other believers, give some attention to the red flag raised by that. You were made for community and saved to be part of the family of God in Christ. “Family” requires and offers relationship that is healthy. But God also is at work in your inner life, which may be nurtured by His Word and prayer, along with times of worship when it’s “just me and God”. And, by the way, that’s as isolated as you can possibly get. Because of God’s existence and His presence, you can never be truly alone. You may shut Him out, but you cannot “shoo Him” away or dismiss Him from your presence. But it can feel great to get away from people and busyness and stress to care for your soul in a quiet place. May the Lord renew you in both dimensions of your life.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV) ¹²  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 5:16 (NIV)  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Matthew 6:6 (NIV)  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for both the privilege and joy of fellowship, and for time to be by myself. Help me to not get out of balance.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Lost

Luke 19:10 (NIV)   For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

            Last Saturday Joanne and I and Barbara MacPike took a group of eight Junior High youth to Levant to Treworgy Orchards. The main object of the trip was to “do” the corn maze. Each year the folks at this farm plant corn to be turned into a maze of some design. This year’s maze was a mother and baby elephant. A story is developed and travelers through the maze are given a map indicating six stations to discover. I have never been in a three dimensional maze before. The corn is high, and there are many paths not indicated on the map. In time you can find your way around, but there are moments when you feel disoriented and surprised – that you’re one place when you thought you were in another. Because all of this happens in safety, it ends up being fun. Hence the attraction. The illusion of lostness and finding your way out or through is appealing. Perhaps it is like watching a horror movie in a theater or a living room. People enjoy the emotional rise of being scared, but only from a place of safety. Few people would claim to enjoy being truly afraid. Fear is a brutal emotion and experience that leaves one debilitated and out of control if unchecked. So, too, people can enjoy being lost in a controlled environment whereas being truly lost generates great fear and anxiety.

            Of course, you can be lost and not know it. We sometimes think of the work of the Church as bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost people. This idea is generated by Jesus’ words in Luke 19:10. His self-described mission was to search out and save lost people. Were they groping around in their world, displaced, and not knowing where they were? No. They were living their lives in relative security with a sense of place and belonging. Most of them grew up in families and through their lives maintained connections that gave meaning and significance. If you asked them if they were lost they would have quickly responded, “No, are you crazy or something?” They did not feel lost. And no one they knew would say they were lost.

            So when Jesus says He came for a search and rescue mission for the lost, to whom is He referring? There must be another kind of lostness – very important if it led to the eternal Son of God exiting heaven and entering human flesh. Had God lost track of some people as if He were in a maze and couldn’t find them? No. I think what Jesus was getting at was that there are those who are lost to Him in their sin in the sense that they are relationally disconnected from Him on a pathway to hell. If He doesn’t do something… if He doesn’t go after them, they will remain lost to Him. But Jesus never fails in His search and rescue missions. He will later say, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:9). Could God be God if He loses track of people? Not much of a God. This lost condition is one of being lost in sin. When Jesus speaks of His search and rescue mission, it was at the end of a visit to the home of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was considered an outsider to the house of Israel. He was hated and considered to be a traitor and worse than a Gentile. When Jesus pays attention to him people got mad. That’s when Jesus describes His mission – a mission to the lost. Zacchaeus’ position of lostness is not unique. We’re all there. And it’s a good thing for us that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, because that’s where we are,… or were. “Found” people have no right to mock, hate, belittle, or think themselves better than lost people. We all start in lostness and were it not for Christ’s success in finding and rescuing us, we would still be lost. Once we’re found we can see no attraction in being lost. That condition has lost any appeal. We understand just how bad – how serious – it was.

            So now, like Jesus, we care about lost people. We care because God cares. If we do not care, can we really consider ourselves to be in tune with Christ’s ongoing mission in the world? Can we belong to God without caring for lost people? I don’t know how that could be possible. How can I not care about what God cares about and say that I love God? The condition of being lost – while the culture around us may take it lightly and in some cases even laugh it off – is a desperate place to be, especially when eternity is in view. Our great hope is that Jesus both knew and now knows what He is doing. His search and rescue mission never fails. No one can remain hidden and unfindable to Him. Nor can they remain unsave-able to Him. He will not be thwarted, beaten, or frustrated. He will not fail.

Luke 15:1-11 (NIV)   ¹  Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. ²  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." ³  Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴  "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶  and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' ⁷  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. ⁸  "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' ¹⁰  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." ¹¹  Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons… (read the rest in Luke 15:11-32)

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the persistence and faithfulness of Jesus to find me. He found me in my sin and took upon Himself what was deserved by me. May my memory of my own lostness ever lead me to praise you, to be appropriately grateful, and to care about others who are still lost – as you care about them.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

The Right Direction

1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 (NIV) ⁸  The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹  for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰  and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

            As I read this passage this morning, the words “turned to God from idols” began to roll around in my mind. John Calvin called the human heart an idol factory, and it seems to me we are always moving in one of two directions: to God from idols or to idols from God. Jesus told the Pharisees that people were either with Him or against Him – either gathering with him or scattering. (Matthew 12:30) There was no neutral ground. This can certainly be frustrating to anyone who knows who Jesus is, but does not want to commit to him. The person who knows who Christ is, but wishes to “have fun” or “do my own thing for a while”, is making some significant assumptions. First of all, he is assuming he will have an opportunity at some future point to turn to God. The Scripture tells us not to boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what a day will bring forth (Proverbs 27:1). And Jesus called the rich man who built his barns a fool, because that very night his life would be required of him. (Luke 12:16-21) It is foolish to assume that we will have time to turn to God before we die. And then, secondly, he is presuming he is innocent of being against Christ. His assumption is that he has never intentionally or willfully said a bad word about Jesus or done anything to offend Him or “harm” Him. Therefore Jesus should be “okay” with him. The problem is that Jesus perceives “neutrality” to be opposition. That person who is supposedly neutral regarding Jesus is “moving to idols” just as much as a person who hates Jesus Christ is. And usually it’s not a matter of overt hate. It’s more a matter of simply loving the idols more.

What are the idols? The things we trust more than God. The things we look to for comfort and help instead of looking to God. The things that are more important to us than God. The things we spend more time with, more money on, and use more energy for – with no thought for or regard to God. Idols can even be good things in our lives – even some of God’s own gifts to us: like a relationship, a job, or a material blessing of some kind. Whenever we come to love the “goodies” more than the good Giver, we are in danger of moving toward idols. On several occasions Jesus spoke of following Him. He said once that it is impossible to follow Him without “hating” one’s father, mother… (family). Jesus does not promote hate-filled relationships here. But He does require a love for Him that supersedes all other loves. We are either moving to God from idols or to idols from God.

            In his sermon, The Great Polarizer, Kent Hughes said, “Jesus is the great polarizer. It's as if all of humanity were iron filings laid out on a sheet of paper, and Jesus is the magnet. Every single filing lines up either with the North Pole or the South Pole. Every person is either attracted to or repelled by the person of Jesus Christ, because he's a magnet. The power and influence of his very being cannot be ignored.” Wherever a person is in life, whatever he or she believes, our time here will come to an end. It may come when Jesus comes again or when we die, but it will come. And we will face Him – with nothing but the truth of who and what we are, and what we have loved the most. As C. S. Lewis warned, "That will not be the time for choosing. It will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it or not."

            Each day in our life in Christ affords an opportunity to step away from idols. We do this because we are a new creation in Christ. We do this because He first loved us. We do this for the joy that awaits those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We do this because we’re family (with God) now, because we have been adopted as His children who have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ. We do this by and because of God’s grace, which gives us a hope and a future that no idol – as wonderful as it could seem to be – can give. May the Lord deliver us daily – hourly – moment by moment if need be, from the idols we would create apart from His presence and grace. AMEN!

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV) ¹  As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. ²  For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Isaiah 42:8 (NIV)  "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.

PRAYER:  Father, show me the subtlety of how things in this world want my worship. Keep my heart pure, and may I be singularly and wholeheartedly devoted to you in love. In the choices that lay before me today, may I move toward you, and not toward an idol of any kind. To your glory.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Welcoming Revival

            You cannot command sleep. Yet how many of us have tried! Many a mom has grown weary of telling her child, “Go to sleep now.” And many a dad just as weary of adding, “Go to sleep or else.” Yet we cannot say the word – as if we were hypnotists – and put someone to sleep with just that word. We wish we could. How nice it would be if sleep came with the turning of a switch – especially on those nights when we toss and turn and roll and have our minds filled with racing thoughts. But sleep doesn’t work like that.

            In His book Imagining the Kingdom, James A. K. Smith compares revival to falling asleep. He describes how you can only be its object and not its producer. He writes…

“I cannot choose to fall asleep. The best I can do is choose to put myself in a posture and rhythm that welcomes sleep. I lie down in bed, on my left side, with my knees drawn up; I close my eyes and breathe slowly, putting my plans out of my mind. But the power of my will or consciousness stops there. I want to go to sleep, and I've chosen to climb into bed—but in another sense sleep is not something under my control or at my beckoned call. I call up the visitation of sleep by imitating the breathing and posture of a sleeper. There is a moment when sleep "comes" settling on this imitation of itself which I have been offering to it, and I succeed in becoming what I was trying to be. Sleep is a gift to be received, not a decision to be made. And yet it is a gift that requires a posture of reception—a kind of active welcome.”

“A posture and rhythm that welcomes sleep…” In other words, do everything I would do as if I were sleeping (darken the room, make it quiet, lie down on the bed, put my head on a pillow, etc.). Sleep then “happens”if I have created a good environment for it to happen. But it happens – it always happens – quite apart from my command.

What a good analogy for God’s work in revival when He sends His Spirit on us in power. It’s not that we are not looking for Him (though we may, in fact, not be). We are practicing repentance, humbling our hearts, recognizing our brokenness, recognizing it’s about me and not others (not pointing the finger at them, but at myself), softening our hearts, letting God know of our desire for the filling of the Spirit, and spending much time in prayer seeking God’s transforming work in our hearts and minds and attitudes. We are waiting on the Lord patiently and seeking to be faithful day by day. We are doers of the Word and not hearers only. All of these things (and others like them) are ways we put ourselves in the “posture of reception”. We are trusting the sovereignty of God to give grace in the time of His favor.

How else might you put yourself in the posture of reception? Think about your daily words and actions and attitudes. Do they reflect a readiness for revival… for a work of God’s glory and power in your inner being? If you wanted to get into this posture, where would you begin? Would it be to put out of your life a “love” that is competing against your love for Christ? Would it be to find a faithful brother or sister who would help you confess a sin and more openly declare what it has been doing to you? Would it be to fast… to set aside a deeper and more intentional time for prayer? Where would you begin? If you can identify that place, I encourage you to “go there” and do that and wait on the Lord… and continue to wait. I can’t command you to be revived. But I can encourage you “turn out the light” or “pull up the covers”, if you know what I mean.

            Let us seek the Lord and His work in our lives, whether it is in the form of revival or in the everyday-ness of life. Really seek. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Psalm 85:1-7 (NIV) ¹ You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. ²  You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Selah ³  You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. ⁴  Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. ⁵  Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? ⁶  Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? ⁷  Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.

Hosea 10:12 (NIV)  Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV) ¹⁰  This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

PRAYER:  Father, may I live each day in expectancy, with a hunger and thirst for you that delights to anticipate the filling of your Spirit and the revival of my soul. Thank you for such outpourings of your grace. Return me to my first love and restore my passion for you.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott