In highschool, I used to do this thing every night. When I got home from a late practice, work, small group, church, anything you name it...I would get out of my car and just look up. The sky mesmerizes me and captures my heart! I felt so close to God while staring at the stars {and yes I may or may not have a constelation location app on my phone... ahahha}
After a while, just five minutes wasn't enough. I wanted to see God in more than just the stars. So, I started going on hikes, walks on a nearby trail, listeneing to music, journaling, everything. But something was still missing. I wasn't "feeling" God. I knew He was real and loved me, but I hit this valley of not hearing God's voice.
It was really tough. But then college came and God flipped my life upside down. I have never had to depend so much on God for not only physical strenght, but menatal, and spiritual and all types of strenght. My first semester was a huge growing season for me! I started getting back into reading the Bible and learning more and more about our creator!!
One day while I was studing John with the amaizing online bible study SheReadsTruth, a verse popped out at me and struck a cord.
It reads:
"Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord."
~ John 21:12 ~
Now here is some background: Jesus had risen from the dead!!!! He had visited His disciples before, but in this moment they did not recognize it was Him at first. It was the usual busy day trying to make a living for Simon-Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, and a few others. There lives depended on how well the catch of the day goes. And the day was not off to a good start. It was early in the morning when all of a sudden Jesus pops up out of no where and asks the men, " Friends, haven't you any fish?" They replied, "No." Jesus said to put the nets on the right side of the boat and then they will find some. Of course the men relucktainly throw the nets on the right side....then all of a sudden huge fish were everywhere = basically they were ritch now. My favorite part is what follows.
"Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter," It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him and jumped into the warter."
~John 21:7 ~
I love how spontaneous Simon Peter's love for Jesus is. He becomes overwhelmed by the love and joy he feels when in realtaitonship with the Lord and all that does is drive him to want more. More of Jesus!
So, now I wonder. What would it look like if we had breakfast with Jesus every day. And think about it. Breakfast time is the most raw time of day. You are just waking up, probably still in your pjs, hair is a mess, still sort of in dream land, and the only thing calling your name and really pulling you away from your bed is a cup of coffee {seriously though!!!} And yet God still wants to not only have breakfast with us, He wants to provide us with breakfast. Now I am not talking about physical food {although that would be nice too...hahah food touched by an angel..I mean God}. I am talking about spiritual food. The only type of food that will last forever and ever.
If we start our days out founded on truth, our perspectives will change from all about us to all about God! And if we sew truth, love, peace, beauty, patience, kindess, selfcontrol, gentleness.....all things pure in the eyes of the Lord, all that is left to be reaped will be blessings. Now I am not saying everything will be fine and dandy with butterflies everywhere and double rainbows. This world is broken and we are broken people. There will be moments when God throws out your comfort only because He cares more about your character and who you are becoming!
Each mornign is a brand new start, a new breath of life. Everything from the day before is in the past now, in fact it is old history, and it can not be changed. All that you can control is how you spend your time today and tomorrow.
Let me tell you, I have been doing this since the beginning of the new year, and I have changed. I feel more comfort, love, courage, boldness, and strenght from God. Through the Holdy Spirit I experience God's unimaginal power. And the more time I spend in intimacy with God, the more power I am given. After just a few days, only breakfast was not enough. I wanted even more! So then I started adding in lunch, snack, dinner, and then I realized I can be in complete unity and in the presenc of God at all times.
As I have grown in my walk with God by devolping and practicing communion with God.
I have learned how to grow in the two types of Holiness: 1. I am set apart for God's special purposes. and 2. I am seta part from teh world, dedicated for intamacy with God.
Finally when you add in Faith: believing God is genuinly eager for goodness of miracles and taking risks in order to gro.
When you add all three of these components you end up with the Power of the Holy Spirit. The more we grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit, the more we will grow in the Holy Spirit's Power{God's Empowering Presence}
I love what John Mark Comer, the pastor of Bridgetown church in Portland, has to say about the Holy Spirit and temptaion:
"Every temptation you face, is a chance to grow in the power of teh Holy Spirit."
Every time you choose God over your own selfish desires, or choose to honor Him by doing your homework rather than going to a party, you are growing int he power of the Holy Spirit.
So this week, try having breakfast with Jesus. It may not feel that great at first, but after a while you will understand what I mean about never feeling like your thirst is quenched. Let's run to God, and trust Him and His plan for lives.
Let's have breakfast with Him and with other believers. Let's let God make us breakfast and fill our spirits to the point of overflowing with His Holy Presence{the Holy Spirit}, His love, His Peace, His strength, His courage, His boldness....Let's allow God to move inside of us and use us in ways we never new were possible.
He invites you every morning, every night, every day, every month, every year, every lifetime.
Will you RSVP? Will you sit with your creator and breath in new life, comfort, and power?
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