Each one of you knows me well enough to know that I enjoy being busy and getting things done. So, when I say we live in a fast paced society, I don’t want you to think I am saying it just because I am getting old. You’ve heard the statement: “I wish there were a few more hours in the day,” and like me you’ve probably even thought it yourself. The reality is that even if we had more hours, it would still not be enough. We all suffer from overload in some or all aspects of our life. For example: information, teachings, scheduling, opinions, options, decisions, and especially food choices (what’s healthy and what’s not.) I believe we are positioned for distraction and it serves as more of a problem than deception. It’s no wonder we struggle finding peace and it’s no wonder we labor to live Psalm 46:10a “Be still, and know that I am God.” I have to believe this is the core issue for not having more epiphanies.
I do not wish for the “good old days” or a simpler time. These are the good old days. God knew before the earth’s foundation was laid that it was the perfect time for you and I to exist. Additionally, there was a perfect space and work for us to exist in, based on the image (of you) He conceived. All we have to do is identify the truth of who we are and live it – now that is a real epiphany!
Let me give you an example. In the Ecclesiastical Calendar, today is devoted to a lady by the name of Julia Chester Emery. At age 24 she became the Secretary of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church’s Board of Missions. During her remaining 40 years she organized about 5600 chapters in the 8500 parishes across America to insure the church acted on its call to proclaim the Gospel worldwide. However, it was not until she had been in the position for 34 years that she created the United Thank Offering, still in existence today, which helped eliminate much of the mundane work she had performed for decades. To me she is as much a spiritual hero as Abraham, Luther, Jonathan Edwards, Billy Graham, or Sister Theresa. She understood who The Father conceived her to be and what He had called her to do. Her epiphanies came both early and late in life. I have to believe they happened because she took the time to be still, know, and diligently seek God.
The question I ask you today is this: “Have you made the time today and created the space in your life to have an epiphany?” Think about it this way. Christ named you (and all believers) as his bride. Consider the Hebrew word for bride (Kallah.) The word it was derived from (Kalal) which means to make complete or perfect. So when you think about it God’s desire is to make you perfect and complete. In the same way a bride and bridegroom can never be complete without intimate times together, so can you never be all you have the potential to be until there are the quiet times of intimacy. Don’t just agree with me. Schedule it and make it part of your day.
Love Dad