I have been challenged a lot lately by my pastor and a guy named Jeb Kolby last night at dinner. Jeb went to A&M, class of '04. He is on staff at our church now. He and his wife are going on mission to Kyrgyzstan in September. They are going to "teach" at a school there. He was telling me how the pastor at our church FORCES everyone on staff to spend an hour a day with Jesus. If that is while they are at the office at church, then that is ok. Jeb said the mission leader of the school he is going to spoke to Jeb about this in order to prepare for his year of ministry. This is what he said:
People (Christians) can't commit to getting up early to spend an hour a day with Christ usually for three reasons:
1) They are too tired or lack of sleep
2) They don't have the desire
3) They don't see the relevance in doing so.
He said that if you are too tired then it is going to take a change in your lifestyle. If you have to go to bed an hour early so that you can get up an hour early, then do so. If you have to cut out watching David Letterman at night, then do it. David Letterman is not the King of the World, and he is not your savior. If you have to cut out spending time on the computer at night then do it. He said that if the President of the United States asked you to meet him at 5:00 am tomorrow morning, you would definitely make the time. What about Jesus?
If you don't have the desire, then ask for the desire!
I have committed myself to spending an hour a day at work with Jesus. From when I get to work at 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, my door is going to be shut. I am telling my assistant not to bother me with anything at all. Luckily I have a job that allows me to do this; not everyone does. You may not, but I know you can find some time somewhere. Early in the morning or at night when you get home, before you open your computer or do anything else this should be priority. Don't take this as me preaching, because I believe we are in the same boat here. For a while I wasn't doing this for those three reasons: too tired, didn't have the desire, and didn't see the relevance in doing so. Well, I guess I knew the relevance, but didn't act like I did. While I am writing this to you I am saying it to myself just as much!
I will be praying for you about that and pray for me too.
-Kyle Webb