GOD MOMENTS

I remember quite vividly a challenge I heard nearly 20 years ago while attending what was then Southwestern Assemblies of God College. A missionary spoke in our chapel service about prayer and other spiritual disciplines. He made the statement that if you didn't get up at 5am every morning for prayer, your ministry wouldn't amount to much. Those words pierced me to the core. At that time, I almost assumed what he said was gospel (a student's mind soaking up knowledge and guidance to a better self). So, I set my alarm for 4:45am prior to going to bed that night with every bit of zealous intention in making this new timeslot a part of my daily routine. To say I kept that schedule wouldn't be truthful nor did I continue to hold to the missionary's same expectation as gospel for me. But what I did come to know is the value of keeping spiritual disciplines as daily routine and the sacrifice that would sometimes carry. Whether it be 5am or 10pm, the timeslot or timeframe, for that matter, isn't the most important aspect of spiritual disciplines. Rather, the fact that we make them a part of our daily lives is the bigger issue. And, the biblical idea is that those disciplines produce personal growth - not just keeping a routine...to feel better about ourselves because we accomplished something "spiritual" for that day. Heaven's expectation for those who consider themselves Christ-followers is that we bear fruit. Personal fruit-bearing comes primarily from the work of God's Word and the walk of faith. For the "work" and the "walk" to occur, our commitment to spiritual disciplines must become ruthless.

Benjamin Disraeli said, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes." Could it be that maintaining spiritual disciplines, even in those days that the "goose-bumps" and epiphanies aren't there, prepare us for "God Moments" in our lives? I'm talking about those opportunities, be it a grand promotion or simply a season to do good for someone else, that God brings our way.

Think about it...and, I'll write more a little later.