Ouch. That's all I'm gonna say about this week's lesson. It hit me good.
As we work through this mini-study, we'll see how Choice #1 affects Choice #2...and #3...and #4...you get the idea. This week is foundational to all the other choices we face each day. You can probably guess what it is. And it hits me in a very sore spot because it's an area that I covet. Sleep. We've all been there. Waking up to realize that you've either set your alarm wrong or just hit 'snooze' way too many times than you should've and now you're in a frantic rush to try and get everything together. You stress out and your positive attitude for the day turns sour and everything else is downhill from there. Getting up is the first right choice you get to make everyday. It's a mega-choice! [Sidenote: I TOTALLY struggle with this one so this week may just be schoolin' me. Just sayin'.]
Okay- let's get started....
Day One:
Let's look at what the Bible has to say about sleeping vs. getting up early. I warn you...it ain't pretty. Read Proverbs 6:6-11. (Keep in a mind that a "sluggard" is someone who has a bad habit of being lazy, slow, or idle. It's someone who hates to get up and hates to work. If you've ever seen a slug on a sidewalk or driveway, you get the picture.) What does the Bible say "sluggard" will receive/earn? What can you learn from the tiny ant that you can remember and copy in verse 7? Verse 8? If the "sluggard" follows the instructions of verse 6, what will happen? Okay, now read Proverbs 15:19 and 24:30-34. Compare what the "sluggard" receives here with what Proverbs 13:4 says the "diligent" will have. I told you. Ouch. I know that y'all get up early for school but how many of you get up earlier than the bare minimum you need to get out the door? How many of you stretch it to the very last minute before getting up? [Keep in mind I'm talking to myself right now.] Just remember:
Sluggards....
....will not begin things.
....will not finish things.
....will not face things.
Do you want God to use you? How can He if you're not awake to do it?
Day Two:
Let's look at some people who got up early to accomplish things early in their day. [I can guarantee you it's not Kristen Keeling. At least not lately....] We'll start with Proverbs since we were all around there yesterday. Have you ever heard of "The Proverbs 31 Woman"? The last chapter in Proverbs, chapter 31, was written by King Lemuel. He basically sums up what his mom told him to look for in a wife...and boy, is she everything and a bag of chips! She's God's picture of the ideal woman with each verse highlighting a character quality. Guess what quality is found in verse 15? Yep. For her to fulfill one of God's priorities for her, she had to set her alarm (or whatever they did back then?) and get up and get going early. Living her life God's way was important enough to get a jump start on the day. What is important to you today? What do you want to accomplish? How can God help you with that by getting up earlier to do it? Will you ask Him to help you and then do your part?
Day Three:
Okay, so let's look at some more women who got up early: Mary, Mary, and Joanna. You know these ladies but have probably overlooked them when hearing/reading this story. Go to Luke 24:1-10. Hold up. Go back and read verse 1. I hate the word 'very' in front of the word 'early', don't you? (Unless it's followed up by 'release'!) Do you think they were tired? Do you think it was horrible watching Jesus suffer brutality and die in agony on the cross? (One of them was his mother!) Do you think it was emotionally draining to persevere this and then also have to fear for your own life as a follower of Jesus? And yet these women pressed on with their mission- to tend to Jesus' body and burial. What if they had hit the snooze button on their alarm clocks (or whatever they did back then?) and gone back to sleep on that all-important morning when they needed to minister to the Lord's body? What if the women slept in? What if they had made excuses and didn't go? I mean, they had every right to. They would've missed out on the BIGGEST BLESSING OF THEIR LIVES!!! People get out of bed for all sorts of reasons. To meet with a prayer group or gather for prayer at the school flagpole. To work on a Bible study for youth group. To finish a homework assignment. To go over the test material one more time. To go to a practice. To fix their hair extra cute in a new way. What are you passionate about? What do you love doing more than anything else? These women loved Jesus like that. Does this challenge you? It does me.
Day Four:
Okay, one more person. Go to Mark (It's right before Luke) and read 1:35. Yeah...can't argue with this one either. I mean, it's Jesus. God's Son got up early...."while it was still dark". Did you catch that? (I've never been more thankful for daylight savings time than right now.) What in the world did He do once He was awake? He talked to His Heavenly Father first thing in the morning. He received daily strength for doing God's will for one more day. He was spiritually arming Himself for facing and handling temptation, especially the temptation to turn away from going to the cross. He did it right because He never once gave in. Don't you think we should probably follow His example? I know you're school is a battlefield. I know you're in the midst of a
Day Five:
Okay, so this week's lesson has kicked my butt already! Anyone need a plan but me? Here are the steps that Elizabeth George outlines in her book:
- Decide when you would like to get up. [Duh.]
- Determine when you must get up to make your day go the way you wish it to go. [Isn't this the same as #1?]
- Set your alarm...a good loud one...an obnoxious one! [No, you can't borrow one of my kids for this.]
- Get to bed in time to get the rest you need before getting up on time. [Ouch. Again. This one's for me.]
- Pray. Ask for God's help to get up. Tell Him why it's important that you get up on time. Go over your plans, purposes, commitments, and dreams for tomorrow with Him. He cares! [And my two cents? Be ready to toss and turn once your alarm goes off. The Holy Spirit will not let you sleep in even if you try to. When you make a date with Him, He expects you to keep it.]
- Purpose to get up...no matter what. Don't give in. And don't worry about not getting enough sleep. It's only for one morning. Then do it again the next morning.
- Praise God when you hear the alarm. The psalmist cried out with the dawn, "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). [I like this one.]
- Your future starts the second you get up. (Proverbs 20:13)
- Realize the value of each day. (Psalm 30:12) [Love this one.]
- Have a purpose for each day. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
Sooooooo posting's pretty much out unless Lindsay's the only one even doing this! Ha! (Love ya, Girl!) How 'bout this? Pick a buddy who's planning on doing this study too. She doesn't have to be in our class or even have done last week's lesson. Just someone who wants to get up and do these 5 days. Make a post saying who you're going to buddy up with....and I count too! I need a buddy and I'll be more than one person's if you need me to. Starting Monday, text/call each other at a time that's earlier than what you need to get ready for school. Then when you get up earlier, do that day's mini-lesson. I'm thinkin' you'll need about 15-20 minutes extra to do each day. That's with looking up the Scriptures and journaling if you want to. Unless you're really slow in the mornings like me and then you might need 30. Your buddy should be doing it too, not just acting as your wake-up call. Got it? If you have any questions, just post 'em and I'll answer them so everyone can see. And if you're not reading this, at least be doing something that gets you in God's Word! (Of course, you wouldn't be reading this if you're not reading this, so why did I just type that? Good grief! I've got to get to bed!) ;)
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