Called to be more than mediocre

"I know your works, that you are neither hot nor cold.  I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."  

(Revelation 3:15,16)

How many of us are content with being "lukewarm" when it comes to our walks with God?  We go to church weekly, but, when it comes to reading the Word of God and praying, we often fail to spend daily time with God.  We always have excuses ready, too.  

"I'm too tired."  

"School is just drowning me."  

"I was going to, but time just rushed by me."  

"Work kept me late, and then I didn't have enough time." 

But we refuse to face the real reason: "I didn't care enough to follow God's commandments and submit my time to Him."

Lately, I have been exceedingly guilty of this sin.  I wake up late and forsake reading and praying in order to do my makeup.  I get home late and feel too tired to concentrate on the Bible so I spend time on the internet instead.  And when I think about my spiritual responsibilities, I always say, "I'll do it later."  Sometimes I do, but most of the time I don't.

It wasn't always like this, though.  Earlier this year, my mornings were planned around my time with God.  I couldn't wait to read my Bible, and I loathed having to shut it in order to go through the rest of my day.  Praying to God for an hour felt like five minutes, and I felt relief whenever I could cast my burdens upon my Father.  I was on fire.  

But, like many Christians, after awhile the problems of the world started to knock on the door to my private sanctuary.  Work and school tired and stressed me out.  Responsibilities started to fill up my list, and spending time with God fell from number one on my to-do list.  Because I wasn't getting fed spiritually, the demands of the world were able to steal my joy, which left me without peace, lethargic.  

Now, here I am, lukewarm and stuck in a spiritual rut. 

And I thought that the answer to my problem was a personal revival.  So every time I prayed, I asked God to light my fire, to increase my desire, and to bring about a change in me.  And when I still had no desire to read my Bible the next morning, I wondered why He wasn't answering my prayer.  

Until today, when I realized that I don't need a revival.  I need to develop diligence.  It's my fault that I'm not on fire, and God is not responsible for kindling me again.  I need to be dedicated enough to spend time in God's Word no matter what my emotional state, to surrender my time to Him no matter what's on my schedule.  For He is to be first in my life.  And passion for Him comes from knowing Him through reading His Word, not through prayer requests that I'm not willing to back up with action.  I have to seek in order to find.  

This needs to be my daily prayer:

Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life.  I give myself, my time, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.  Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit.  Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever. 

(Betty Scott Stam)

Today I say that I am not ok with being a mediocre follower of Christ.  

Are you?