Between Sundays A Year of Transforming Devotionals for the Toughest Days of the Week

Week One: Encountering God A Moment ofReckoning Week 1/Monday But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will youwake up? --Proverbs 6:9 NLT I am convinced that we all receive a wake-up call at least once in ourlifetimes. We don't always recognize it when it happens, but later we realizethat's what it was. We are blessed if we can hear and know when God is trying toshake us loose from the shackles of slumber and delirium. The Father of our souls is looking for long-term results, notshort-term gains. We may look at our lives and say, "I'm doing fine...money inthe bank, healthy family, faithful to attend church, etc." But God looks at us and isnot satisfied until Christ is formed in us. God's eyes are on the inner self, not theoutward man (see 1 Sam. 16:7). He knows when we're due for a wake-up call. Peter the apostle had a wake-up call in the days following the LastSupper. In the warmth of fellowship among his ministry peers, he was quick to say,"Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death" (Luke 22:33kjv). But later, in the warmth of the fire of scrutiny, he hastily denied any knowledge ofChrist. Then, when he realized what he'd done and admitted how weak he truly was, hisheart was broken, and a conversion took place. God cannot fully use those who are totally self-reliant. It is from thebroken places of our lives that we minister most effectively. It is from a state of utterhopelessness that we realize how much we desperately need God. Only when we reach thispoint are we emboldened to do what is beyond ourselves, because only then do we realizeour strength is from God and not something we can conjure up ourselves. So when your faith is shaken, when your world is suddenly turned upsidedown, stop and listen. Consider what's happening. It might be God's alarm clockgoing off in your life. Your wake-up call. Arise and shi≠ resist the lure of the snoozebutton.~Lord Jesus, let me recognize the crucial moments of my existence. I don't want to bespiritually asleep. I want to be attentive to your workings, to your voice and yourpurpose.~ Stand by Me Week1/Tuesday He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set myfeet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. --Psalm 40:2 Moses. Mighty man. Leader. Chosen by God. Now in the presence ofGod...there on the mountaintop, Moses watched as God's finger chiseled out theholy commandments for Israel. God was so close that Moses could feel the holy lightpermeating his very being. "God, show me your glory," he said bravely. God looked at his faithful servant and smiled. Surely there was so muchhe would have liked to reveal, but he knew his servant only too well. God spoke."There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock" (Exod. 33:21). "Iwill cause all my goodness to pass in front of you" (Exod. 33:19). As God's glory passed by, God covered Moses with his hand so thatMoses got only a glimpse. Still, Moses' face shone for maCraig, Shawn is the author of 'Between Sundays A Year of Transforming Devotionals for the Toughest Days of the Week', published 2006 under ISBN 9781416538035 and ISBN 1416538038.