Rise & Shine- Time to Wake Up!

Thursday Confession? I'm that annoying morning person. The one who makes her bed, grabs a cup of coffee and wants to have a conversation all before 8 a.m. Let's face it, I was singing rise and shine way before Kylie.

When the quarantine started, I actually gave myself permission to sleep in. With the mindset of having no obligations I had to physically go to- I turned off my alarms and pushed aside my to-do lists. Let me tell you friends, I tried hard to sleep in. I put more effort into making myself stay in bed than actually getting up. No matter how hard I tried, my internal clock chimed in and I was awake. I was frustrated and to be honest- I felt defeated. Wasn't this time of isolation for me to rest? I definitely felt like I deserved it. After accepting myself as a morning person, I found myself back in the "secret place" with God. My "secret place" isn't necessarily a location, but rather seeking God and spending time with Him. The first day I met God back in our secret place, I understood why I couldn't sleep in.

That morning spent with God left me more rested than an extra hour or two of sleep ever could. It wasn't only my physical self that felt refreshed, but my spiritual self as well. God had given me new perspective- and it all started by waking up.

Is it okay if we pause and back up for a second? I don't know about you, but for the past couple of years I have been praying for a "word of the year". This year God spoke "radical awakening" into my heart. When I first felt that, I was EXCITED. I was ready to see people get saved everywhere and anywhere! Then the world took a turn and everyone found themselves quarantined. At first, I struggled with the news of COVID-19. Having an immunocompromised sibling isn't the most ideal thing during a global pandemic- but something that I struggled with even more was change.

I think we can agree that this virus has put us all in an uncomfortable position...but maybe that's the point. I believe that our everyday routines and habits have caused us to fall asleep. We're so caught up in ourselves that we've stopped taking time to seek God, but I think He wants us to use this time to wake up.

Friends even though we are quarantined, I believe that God is radically awakening us in our uncomfortable positions. Can I ask you an honest question? Do you think that in the midst of everyday life we have fallen asleep to who God is and what He is doing? You might be nodding your head, and I want to let you know that I'm right there with you. Remember when I told you about my sleeping in fiasco? It wasn't just my internal clock kicking in- it was God waking me up to something much bigger. He was waking me up to Him and His plans- and I know He wants to do the same with you.

I know that this time of isolation is hard but I truly believe that God is offering us this time to run back into His arms, or maybe run into them for the first time. So while we may have fallen asleep in our comfortable routines and habits- He is waking us up here and now. If you're ready to awake to God I want to encourage you to pray this with me:

"God I'm sorry for falling asleep. If there is anything that I've done or said without your guidance- I'm sorry. I ask for your forgiveness and thank you for your sweet grace. I surrender to you in this moment and ask that you come and wake the parts of me that have fallen asleep. I ask that every day your spirit and presence decide what I do, where I go and how I spend my time and energy. Amen."