Stepping Stones: God’s Wakeup Call: Will You Answer or Hit Snooze?

Transformational Thought

We love our children. Nothing in this world is more precious. As a parent, I really get excited when my kids pursue me. The best is when they do it even though they don’t need anything ... but because they simply love me and want to hang out with me. What they don’t realize is, I have been pursuing them all along, whether they liked it or not, whether they wanted me or not, and I pursued them even before they were born! If you are a parent, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

You see, we all come to a life-changing and eternity-determining fork in the road on our life journey. Whether it is trying to figure out where we came from, what happens when we die, what our purpose is or life path will be, or whether we can do it all on our own, these kinds of questions and ponderings bring us to the all important fork. At that junction, you have two options, whether you will answer these questions by pursuing God, or ignore God and make yourself the center of these important answers.

Some arrive at the fork at age 4, others as a teen, and some when as an adult. Even if we take the wrong path, we get to circle back many times in life. But when we choose the correct path, setting out to know our God more intimately, He certainly rejoices, but He is not surprised. If you are waking up and finally starting to pursue Him harder, it’s because He has been pursuing you and you are finally realizing your need to acknowledge that call and respond.

While this longing for Him burns brightly in your heart, remember it originates from Him. Know, just like parents do, God has been pursuing you long before your quest for Him began. If you think your spiritual discipline keeps you close to God, you are at risk. If you are depending solely on your own efforts to stay close to God, you will surely find times where you are distant from Him. But if you put His love and pursuit of you as the first step, you will understand the bigger story of His love, sovereignty and sacrifice, your need for all He has, and your responsibility to steward your free will faithfully. To me, this is reassuring and freeing in many powerful ways.

Today, thank your Lord for awakening in your heart the strong desire for Him. Even before you were born, He loved, planned, and pursued you. Take 2 separate breaks today and search your heart, looking for what God is asking you cut back on, so you can answer His wake-up call and not hit the snooze button again. Carrying less will actually ease the burden you carry. It’s your decision, choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, Thank You for awakening me and placing in my heart this strong desire for You. Before I realized Your consistent effort to wake me up, I took the wrong fork to find answers in so many different places. I tried so hard to fill the void – and many times I filled it in sinful ways. Forgive me, Lord. I realize now that I have thirsted for You as far back in time as I can remember. I know now that my desire for a closer walk with You grew out of all the work You have done in me. I know You have initiated this longing I have for You … and I know my response now pleases You. Help me, Lord, set aside time and use the remote control for my mind each day to engage with You, my living God. In Jesus’ ultimate awakening; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 42:2

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5