The Weekly Encourager – September 2, 2020 – Wake-Up Call

What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? This may reveal where your heart lies.

A few months ago, my women’s Bible study group was sharing prayer requests. One lady said she woke up with fears and worries about the day. I proudly told her that my first thought was always the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Years ago, after noticing that I had negative thoughts in the morning, I trained myself to sing this same hymn each morning to focus my mind on God. (Note that most of the time, I just hear it in my head, rather than singing it aloud.)

However, just as we no longer notice a painting which has been hanging in the same spot for years, I have begun to take that hymn for granted, hearing it in my head, but not really thinking about the words. The Bible warns us about prayers that are only “vain repetitions.” No matter how good the words of a prayer or song may be (even the Lord’s prayer!), if it becomes a rote exercise without engagement, we’re no longer getting any benefit.

I got a spiritual wake-up call yesterday, while studying Revelation 14. Verse 7 is a good summary verse for the whole book. “And [the angel] said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

My life has had several disappointments lately. The most recent was that we lost the charming vacation house we had planned to rent. We had reserved this popular location several months in advance, looking forward to a week in this lovely spot. We even confirmed twice with the host that we were still arriving this Saturday. Then, checking one last time on Monday evening, we found out that the reservation was cancelled by AirBnB, so he had rented the house to someone else! This was very upsetting. Dave promptly found hotel rooms for our family, so we do have a place to stay, but it’s not at all what I had planned.

On Tuesday, I turned to the next section in the Revelation study book I’m using. Pointing out the dangers of idolatry, the author told of her “intense house-hunting frenzy.” She and her husband bought a house and moved in, but she was not satisfied with it and immediately began looking for something nicer, bigger, and in a better location. She writes, “I knew that I was kicking and screaming against the Lord,” who had orchestrated the move. She was getting sucked into materialism looking at all the other houses, but the Lord graciously showed her that she was already in the place where He wanted her. Over time, the reasons became clear for that move. “A deep trust overcame my lack of understanding and I finally settled down into contentment.”

Is it a coincidence that I was struggling with discontent over our vacation housing situation only a few hours before reading this testimony? “Lord, we anticipated staying in this ideal house in the perfect location for months, and now we have to stay in a boring, expensive hotel that’s farther away from the city we’re visiting for the first time?” Yes. God works all things together for good. - Romans 8:28

Even more important to note, for weeks now, I’ve been waking up with negative thoughts of all that’s wrong in my world. Yes, I’m still hearing that hymn in my brain (habits are hard to break), but it’s been merely background music to my discouragement and discontent.

How is a follower of Christ supposed to wake up? Fear God. Worship Him. Give Him glory. - Revelation 14:7

The author of the study book said, "Every day is a new opportunity for us to give God the glory and worship that he deserves for his victory over Satan and sin." Very convicting! We are to "sing a new song" each day of faith in Christ, and contentment with His plans. We are redeemed, we are loved, we are secure in His hand. “I will bless the Lord and give Him glory!”

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Have a thankful day.
God is faithful,
j

The book I’m reading is “Revelation: Let the One Who Is Thirsty Come” by Sarah Ivill, 2013.