5:16 Club -- Day 5, I Snooze, I Lose

My body has still not completely adjusted to the early rising routine. Even though I am getting to bed earlier (almost two hours early on some nights), I'm still a bit sleepier during the day. This morning, I snoozed. What a mistake. I had set the volume on the alarm louder last night so that I would hear it sooner in the morning. I certainly heard it alright, and jumped out of bed only to lower it and sneak back under the covers. Twenty minutes later, I awoke with a headache and a sadness of missing such coveted time. I now see why if I snooze, I lose, both in terms of how I feel and in giving up precious time with the Lord.

I'm glad for this humbling moment, however. I know I am weak in my own strength, and that this discipline requires more than just my effort. It requires prayer and perspective. If I'm just getting up for the sheer fact of getting more accomplished , then I'm missing the point. But if I'm rising early for the sake of letting my mind awake with the Lord alone, giving time to soak in His Word and study, and to cast my cares upon Him, then the motivation is rightly placed. I need this time with my Father, because I love Him and want to get to know Him better. I can't grow deeper with Him without time with Him.

Interestingly enough, some of my early morning prayers have been for two relationships that I feel sad about...because they are not really relationships at all. In one case, I have zero contact with this person. That story is too big and too private to explain. For the other relationship, there is no estrangement at all. We see each other, but lack quality time together. There are no connecting points. We're like two planets orbiting nearby. We're cordial, and even helpful to one another, but there is something missing. I do believe it is simply because we haven't spent enough time together to truly understand and appreciate one another -- to go to the next level of intimacy and love. How interesting that the same dynamics that make up our earthly relationships parallel the one with our Maker!

My Scripture reading this morning came from 1 John 1:1-10, which builds on the premise of fellowship with God, the effects of sin, and reminding us that this fellowship with God brings about joy. It certainly explains why my spirits have been lifted over the past few days, as I've experienced the joy of fellowship with God! It is also interesting that being connected to the Lord is of such primary concern. Sin, and walking in the darkness, will separate us from Him, most certainly. The Word here doesn't say that time apart will do the same, but we all know that time is not the issue. It is how we spend that time, will can be easily connected to the sin of idolatry -- making something else more important than God. I'm guilty. How about you? Let's make time to confess our sin unto the Lord, and also thank God for His grace and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ and for making His Word alive in us.

1 John 1:1-10 ESV

The Word of Life

¹That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

⁵This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Because of Him,