The First Time

Come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel in front of the Lord, our maker, because he is our God and we are the people in his care, the flock that he leads. If only you would listen to him today!
Psalm 95:6-7 God's Word Translation (GWT)

It was later than usual when I finally got to bed. I planned to sleep a little later to make up for it, knowing some things I normally would do in the morning would not get done. But I couldn't see how I could succeed in my day with just a few hours of sleep. (I can be a real grump if I don't get enough sleep...) So, as I said good night to God, I mentioned, "If You want me up early in the morning, You're gonna have to wake me up and have me be wide awake, too, or I'm sleeping in."

In the morning, my eyes popped open like a kid on Christmas morning. It was still dark outside... I looked at the clock. 4:30.The conversation in my spirit went something like this. My first response was...

"Are you kidding me? Thirty minutes earlier than usual?"

"You said if I wanted you up to wake you, so I did."

"Yeah, but 4:30?"

"Are you going to get up?"

"Five minutes, Father. Five more minutes."

"Why won't you respond to Me the FIRST time I speak?"

Immediate conviction. I got up, asked forgiveness, and thanked Him for waking me... For the rest of the day, I was not able to get away from this Truth: We always demand to be heard and are the first to whine when we think He's not listening.

And yet, when was the last time we heard Him tell us something the FIRST time and responded immediately? I want to be a first responder to Him.

Prayer:

Father,
             Forgive us for our selfish ways. Rid us of our willful disobedience. Change our hearts, O God, to be first responders. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen