Recognizing Rebellion

I have spent almost a whole month away from my daily reading and writing schedule.  For various reasons I think I was pouting in the Spirit! I ruminated over whether or not my writing assignment was done with the completion of the devotional.  And what I discovered, or rediscovered,  was that it is very easy to give the Lord “short shrift”.  Our life is in the Spirit.  When we walk out each day knowing that Truth but not actively and eagerly pursuing it, when we accept the willful behavior that places time with the Holy Spirit into the realm of choice rather than necessity, when we give other daily options priority over time in the Word and in the Lord’s Presence, we are diminished.  It is as simple and as true as that.

How can one neglect God  or put Him on hold until further notice? (I am speaking of believers here)  He is our peace, our wisdom, our true identity! He has every answer we will ever need; He is our full supply and our reason for being.

My month long mini-rebellion (although it didn’t feel like rebellion.  It felt like slipping into a new season, pursuing other interests that had been put on the shelf to complete the writing, talking myself into a restructuring of my days after publication of the devotional) was not fulfilling!  The activities I filled my day with, all worthwhile pursuits, when viewed in the light of the spiritual reality that they were an intentional avoidance, were given the place in my life they deserved – creative pursuits that I truly enjoyed but not the usurpers of my time with my Father.  We are meant to inquire of Him and to seek Him – to require Him (Hosea 7:10), to pant and long for Him (Psalm 42:1).

Sometimes spiritual rebellion is simply allowing our daily rhythm to keep us from becoming intimately more and more acquainted with our Father and coming to more clearly recognize the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit; it is the placement of priorities (even valuable and important ones) in an incorrect order of importance.  The woman you are meant to be, the lives you are meant to touch for the Gospel, the blessed life you are meant to walk in – are all profoundly affected by your determination to require time with God.