Thinking back, I can remember the final day of Xmin last year. It was awesome to be able to take a deep breath and know that I had accomplish what I had set out to do. Yeah, there were definitely some tough times. I was stretched and challenged during those eight months more than I ever had been before; and I’ll be honest, I was a little sad to leave. But, here I am again, and boy has the second year been tough . . . er. Working while try to excel academically, while trying to grow with God and be involved in ministry is a lot to put on a schedule. Sometimes it feels like I’m just barely keeping myself afloat, and others like I’m on the verge of sinking.
Yesterday in the reading plan, we all read the first chapter of Mark. From verses 21 to 34, we read about Jesus’ actions one Sabbath. He preaches at the synagogue, casts out a demon, goes to a friend’s house, heals a mother, then spends all night healing people and casting out more demons. Wow, what a day! Jesus was a pretty busy guy. What really kicked me in the pants though, was verse 35, which says: “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” So Jesus had all spent the entire day ministering to people, and was probably exhausted from being crowded by hundreds and perhaps thousands of people who wanted his attention. I’d say he had every right to sleep in – I probably would. But I’m not Jesus (thankfully). Jesus got up early to spend time with God, because he knew that once everyone else woke up, he could kiss his time good-bye.
Jesus was God, yet he modeled prayer to us. He fought for times alone with God so we would know that’s what we should do. Over the next few months of Xmin (only three left) I want to fight for time with God. I don’t ever want to get to the end of the day and realize that I didn’t pray, or that I never wrote down what God spoke to me. I want to have the same hunger and drive the Jesus had. That’s my goal. I’ve spoken it, now I just have to fight for it. When I want to sleep in, when my body wants to be lazy, I have to keep going. Yeah, there should be times to rest, but as Pastor Chilly says: “It’s hard to surrender to rest when you’re driven.” I’m fighting myself on this one.
This is war,
Zack
That’s some good stuff bro! And I def hear ya, we’re at war when it comes fighting for time with God. When we realize what He’s done in our lives, it’s hard not to seek him some more.