How to make yourself get up in the morning
I am like many of you. I often wake up in the morning with a list of to-dos. Very often my list might contain things that I hate to do or that I am dreading. Some mornings I don’t even really want to get out of bed.
In the face of these feelings, I have been putting two new things into practice:
The first, is that I have started to work for Jesus
Colossians 3:17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Yeah that helps me get out of bed a little faster.
I want to work for Jesus, and I want to feel like I am using my talents and gifts for Kingdom building. That desire when grouped with a “working for Jesus” orientation shades and colors the interactions that I have with the people I work for, with, and those who report to me. I find that my attitude is better; I find that I waste less time; I goof off less; I am more careful to respect people. Don’t be confused, this change is not from fear of “big Jesus” watching me, but the change is from being totally sold-out to the idea of restoring this world, its people, and my being to what God originally intended.
When you view your daily routines through God’s restorative lenses, then your routine tasks don’t just seem new, they seem alive with purpose.
The second thing that I have started to do is to lay my “crowns” at the feet of Jesus:
Revelation 4:10-11
The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
”You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
It is easy to become obsessed with your titles, authority, and rivalries in your work. You can become obsessed with getting power, and then fearful and protective about holding onto it. I have discovered the cure for the fever and fear of career building: give it all to Jesus.
When we lay our honors at his feet and offer them to Him, we gain two important things: perspective and humility. We gain perspective because we see our honors contrasted to the perfect honor and worthiness of Christ. We gain humility because we gain understanding that we are given nothing that God does not already have. Indeed, what we are given is meant to be used in His service. Whatever glory and authority is given to us is to be used to extend God’s kingdom.
We live in a world where people are identified and identify themselves by their work. This mode of identity will always leave us unsatisfied and feeling empty. By offering our work and its rewards to Jesus, we transcend this emptiness and begin to see ourselves as we really are: sons and daughters of the King and citizens of the Kingdom.
- Written by Matt Brown