I’ve heard non-morning people quip: “I wasn’t aware there was a 9 AM.” These folks don’t cheerily welcome the dawn. Their metabolism doesn’t even have a gear to engage until well after a hot shower and a jolt of caffeine. Some must be approached warily to judge their degree of prickliness. Most are best left to themselves until they announce their readiness to rejoin the human race. (Beware, all chipper, super chatty souls who delight in extolling the glories of a new day! To them, you are an instant migraine!). Pity the poor bugler playing Reveille! Pity the poor bedside alarm clock just doing its job!
Regardless of the hour of our daily wakeup (5 AM or 1 PM) or its style (Military: lights flipped on, covers yanked off, loudly barked command to rise, or Motherly: gentle, gradual, soft voice, light nudge on shoulder), wake up we must. And this is when the opportunities begin. Plus, the attitude with which we proceed from the first thing to the last, will impact every person along the way. Every waking moment is chock full of the possibility of Holy Spirit Encounters, spreading the blessing and joy of the Lord. Alternatively, we may be leaving a storm cloud in our wake through our words or our behavior, even ruining someone’s day. “So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes.” Ephesians 5:15,16, TPT.
The Apostle Paul, 21 Centuries ago, was fully aware of the times in which he lived, in which the church at Ephesus was learning to navigate the cultural potholes. Thirty years after Paul penned his letter to one of his church plants, Jesus was dictating a letter to John, in exile on Patmos, to be sent around to all the churches with the same urgent plea for them to wake up, be alert, and to be about Kingdom business, to be listening to what the Spirit was saying to all the churches. I think the Spirit still has a message* he is speaking to all the churches today. If we open our ears, we can hear him speaking peace to our hearts. It’s not too late. PD
*Our response?
Heaven’s Work
