As the sun slipped over the horizon this morning, I ignored it. Sure, there were lists to satisfy, chores to complete, expectations to meet, kids to homeschool, but I was having none of it. If I closed my eyes tightly enough, could I could turn back time and score some extra sleep? Maybe? Please? I nestled a bit further into my blanket, felt the whirr of the fan, glanced at the clock, willing the seconds to stop . . but they didn’t, and eventually I had to face the fact: it was a new day, and, ready or not, it was go time.
Drowsy days not only stalk my body, but my spirit too. If we aren’t careful, we can be lulled into a spiritual stupor, running the rat race, keeping up with the Joneses, wasting the time we’ve been given down here. But Ephesians 5:14 says, “Awake You who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” God is calling His church to wake up! If there is a positive side to this pandemic, it is that people are looking for hope. We have The Gospel, the Good News that the masses need to hear, so it’s vital that we get busy sharing it. How do you reach the world in a pandemic? 5 quick ways:
1. Pray. It seems too simple to pray about the world’s woes, but we touch Heaven and change Earth when we hit our knees. Ezekiel 22:30 says that God sought for a man to stand in the gap so that He wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but He found none. God searched for a prayer partner to whom He could respond, but there were none available. That is tragic! Let’s pray for our leaders, for the church to rise up, and for healing for our world as a whole.
2. Hear God’s voice. So many say that they can’t hear God’s voice, but we are designed to do just that. (John 10:27) God is speaking to you, but you have to carve out time to learn to listen. It takes practice and discipline to tune out life’s noise and hear His Whisper in our hearts, but we can do it. We must! (Matthew 4:4)
3. Obey His plan for today. When God nudges your heart to send an encouraging text, spend more moments in prayer, give to an organization working on the front lines, show His love, speak His promise over a situation, then do it. If we will be faithful in the small tasks, He will give us more.
4. Declare. What is God saying about this crisis? He spoke the world into existence with His Words, and we are made in His image, so our words are VERY important. Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and Life are in the power of the Tongue.” Instead of using our tongues to complain, let’s speak only what God is leading us to say.
5. Repeat . . . every day. If we live each moment with eternity in mind, then we can stay awake, alive, and effective for eternity.