Dear brothers and sisters
We have become busy people – running at breakneck speed – so many things to do – always feeling guilty about what does not get good attention. Even more complicating is that our culture pushes us to run faster – regarding busy people as successful people. When you meet somebody – especially spiritual leaders – you hear : “I am so busy”. Forever running – past ourselves, our families, even GOD. Discipleship becomes a friendly gesture towards God from time to time – in the morning and the evening – if we have time – on a Sunday. Doing things for God instead of spending time with God. Involved in a conversation – a headless body – physically present – but my mind is somewhere else – with what happened previously or what must still be done after this conversation. Absent presence!
A mentor of mine once said : “If the devil cannot stop you, he will chase you – business is the devil himself”. And God? God has time – a 1000 days is like a moment for Him. He only meets us where we are right now – in the moment – this moment! Busyness can cause you to miss what God wants to do in this moment, this conversation, this telephone call. Absent presence puts plugs in your ears – you cannot hear God – don’t know what His will for this current moment is – therefore you miss the coming of the Kingdom now. The world stays unaffected. Heaven remains for after I die.
Busy lives can be shallow lives, superficial lives – it can feed religion – but not discipleship – the opportunity to hear the Spirit not only as a Saviour but also as a Coach – lost. Because I am not available. Not listening.
The secret of Discipleship – of disciplemaking is – TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT. To pray :”Spirit – How Now?” How can I exercise your authority – realise your will – let your Kingdom come now -in this situation. To live slower – slow enough to live dependently – in the normal, ordinary situations of everyday life – 24/7. To find my significance not in the multitude of things I can scratch off a to-do list, but in my availability for God. His rulership is opposed in this world – the one place He can expect to exercise His rulership are in the lives of His disciples. In my own life I discover resistance against His rulership so often – because of pride – “I know how to do this – I have done it many times before”. Business very often is nothing else than resistance to God’s kingdom!
How do we start claiming our lives back?
1. Faith. I must believe that Jesus exists – that He is here and that He is the best wisdom teacher ever. He knows the best for all situations.
“It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him”. (Heb 11:6 MSG)
2. A very old discipline – the EXAMEN – comes to us from earlier Christians. An excellent discipline to increase your sensitivity for His presence.
Every evening in the last 5 minutes of your day (just before you fall asleep – in bed) : Revisit the events of this specific day – think through your day – play the video of the day in your mind – from the moment you woke up till now. In which practical way did God show you that He is present and that He loves you? Maybe small things – somebody asked you how did you sleep? You heard the birds singing. Reactions of people towards you. You heard His voice in your quiet time. Provision through food, clothes etc. Answered prayers. Encouragement you received. “Visit” the events, people and places you encountered today. In which way did you experience His goodness today?
3. Ask the Spirit to train you – to pray short breath prayers before every conversation / decision / meeting. “Spirit – How Now?” Don’t expect to achieve “success” immediately. Training from a coach implies patience from the Coach – knowing you will not “succeed” immediately – but loving you enough – unconditionally – to believe in you!
It’s all about a choice between existing and experiencing abundant life (John 10) – life in the Kingdom.
Live in the moment!
Training with you.
Johann Theron