One of my morning routines is to make a pot of coffee and fix a cup for Denice and myself. Denice likes to watch T.V. while she has her coffee. I like peace and quiet. I usually take my coffee and my Bible and go outside to enjoy the early morning air. The city isn’t busy yet, so it’s still quiet and very peaceful.
I sip my coffee, read my Bible, think, and pray. It’s not a planning time for the day. Generally, the day has already been well scheduled out with responsibilities and projects. It’s a refreshing time for my spirit and soul.
It is always a very uplifting time as I read, reflect, dream, pray, listen, and think. There have been times of correction and repentance. There have been times of affirmation and encouragement. There have been times of revelation and direction, times when answers suddenly became clear. Sometimes, just the simple exchange of love—mine responding to His—accompanied by the deep sense of sonship and security.
These times are so important in my life. It is very rare that I will allow anything or anyone to disturb them. They are a source of strength for my day. No matter where I am, like an old friend, they remain.
These are not times for sermon preparation, though they are the seedbed for all my sermons. These are very intimate, personal times. Sometimes, only one verse can be read, for it seems to explode within me. My spirit, like a puppy running after its master, wants to run to the throne. A season of prayer follows that revolves around what the Holy Spirit just spoke through that one verse.
Sometimes I may read chapters with short moments of prayer scattered throughout. Sometimes, I may read a portion over, and over, and over—my praying and reading so intertwined they almost seem one and really are.
There are times when it seems very mechanical and dutiful. But I still do it, pressing on to know Him more, to be changed more into His image, to take on more of His nature, determined that there be less of me and more of Him. I love it when He overwhelms me in the midst of it, but I love it also when it’s simply the walking out of a commitment in my life. I know it produces fruit in me and through me for His glory.
In my life, this is my primary call. It is the fountain from which all other calls issue forth in my life. I see myself called first and foremost to be with Jesus and to know Him. Everything I am and do in life (not just ministry) should be the offspring of this one calling. I say “should be” because it’s a journey I am on, not a destination I have arrived at yet.
So I keep pressing on, determined to catch Him Who has caught me. To behold the wonder of Jesus as much as I can in this life, so that others my catch a glimpse of Him in the mirror of my life.
Steve Vickers
President
Harvest Churches International
Whew…. Dr. Steve this is good stuff. Keep breathing out the life of the kingdom of God…. “the words that I speak unto you are spirit and are life” Jesus Jn 6:63
The things that we can naturally see stem forth from the things that we can’t naturally see. I say it this way sometimes “the practical things sometimes are spiritual things (manifestations) because of where they originated. Just as you stated above “times when it seems very mechanical and dutiful”. There are times when these produce the greatest results as the Apostle Paul said from the Lord “my strength is made perfrct (full, whole, mature, completely manifested) in weakness (only what I can do in and of myself). Without Him I can do nothing,,,.but through Him I can……
Thanks again