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The first time I went to a drive-in theater I was about six years old. The motion pictures on the reel that night were not just exciting – they were epic. A double feature of Godzilla and Star Wars. It was a rare treat for our young family. With five kids and an educator’s salary, movies were a luxury.
The details of that evening are foggy, but there are several things that I remember. Daylight ended as Godzilla began. Dad went to get popcorn while mom spread a blanket out and helped the three oldest littles get to the best vantage point for the show: the roof of our station wagon. Pillows were handed up to the roof perch and we settled in as freaky monsters took over the screen.
After the monster business finished, I got cozy with my pillow and faced the screen belly down, toes in the air. I was ready for the force to be with me. Ready to experience an exciting adventure with handsome heroes, odd creatures, rowdy robots, and a brave, beautiful princess all from a galaxy far, far away.
Anticipation skyrocketed as the movie started and the music rose.
Oh, the music!
The Star Wars theme song elevated every ounce of my heart and stirred my eagerness into a barely containable tizzy. Do-do-do-dooooo dooo, do-do-do-dooooo dooo, do-do-do-dooooo dooo, do-do-do-dooooo! I was such a big kid on top of our station wagon watching a movie! And we had popcorn! Real movie theater popcorn…that my older brother was hogging… (Anyhoo…)
As the battle between darkness and light began to heat up, I met the main characters one by one: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Hans Solo, Chewbacca, C3PO, R2D2, and, of course, the mean man in black, Darth Vader.
Aannnndddd then I fell asleep.
Missed most of the movie.
Woke up to mom telling me to climb down from the roof because it was time to go home.
Noooooooooo!
I’m still in therapy over that sleepy situation. How could I possibly doze off in the middle of one of the most thrilling nights of my entire six-year existence? My heart hung low with disappointment. I was there, but I missed the movie marvelousness.
Sigh.
It doesn’t take a napping nightmare for us to fall asleep during the marvelousness you know. Sometimes I fall asleep to the vibrant connection between God and me because I get lazy, too tired, or too busy to pray. I get too comfortable with a sleepy faith and doze, doze, doze while my Bible collects dust. I get distracted by matters that will fade like flowers and wither like grass. My soul yawns and runs all around town wearing jammies and fuzzy slippers.
Have you been there? Join me today in a soul mutiny against sleepy faith!
Jesus invites us to connect with Him continually. He wants us to be fully alive in Him. He said it this way, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4). He also called out the complacency of the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3, and He calls us beyond lukewarm living to a vibrant, white-hot faith so our lives can be maximized for His glory!
Thankfully, Jesus extends grace – even to us sleepy faith girls. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:19-20).
Ultimately, if we want a faith that’s wide open and fully awake to the glory of God, we have to connect our souls to Jesus.
Dear Lord, I’m sorry for the times when I doze off to Your glorious presence. Thank You for being a God of restoration and relationship. Thank You for Your Word and Your kindness that leads me to repentance. Help me to be fully alive to Your love and leading today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Hey friend! On a scale from 1-10, how sleepy is your faith? Let’s connect about how this message challenged or ministered to you today. What’s God leading you toward? Meet me in the comments section of my blog for prayer and connection!
Have a beautiful and blessed day!
GWEN
Today’s post is an excerpt from my book, I Want It ALL. Ready to narrow the gap between ordinary faith and the not-so-ordinary promises of God found in His Word? Order yours today from Amazon, my website or from your favorite retailer.
© 2023 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
Comments 9
Need answers for my grandson I am praying that God will take him out of the darkness he is heading in to, so I sometimes have a wondering faith will God hear me and answer
Hi! I’m Marcy, Kevin’s sleepy wife, Please really pray for me. I am about a 1 right now. I have gone astray over time and trying to get back to the Lord. I used to love the Lord with all my heart…….I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE LORD TO HAVE A LIFE FULLY ALIVE IN HIM.
I am at #1 right now. I blew it with my husband. Not happy about things said. I know Jesus forgives me as I repent but I don’t like hurting my Savior. Please say a prayer for me.
God Bless You today and many thanks for honesty.
Love , Joy
I’m 71 now and have been a Christian for 42 yrs. I feel dull now, I read my Bible daily and pray sporadically but God seems far away. We go to church but I learned during Covid that our church friends were just that. Outside of Sun mornings, we never see them. We are in a small group but its the same thing. I know we should invite people over for dinner but I’m so tired of cooking and always being the one to reach out! I have many painful health issues too that have worn away my energy.
Susan,
I know exactly how you feel! I am almost 70 been in church my whole life. When covid hit it just change so much in my life and with church. My whole family attended the same church and then my brother n law passed away, then my Dad passed away, then my Mother passed away. No one from church reached out after I stopped attending it was like so hard to go back. During covid our pastor retired and I really loved how he preached now the new pastor is his son n law and teaches and talks and I don’t feel the presence of God in church. I think the young pastors are seeking the younger generation and not out to reach the seniors. I’ve been praying for God to direct my path and lead me to people that stirs my heart, my spirit my joy. God is good and faithful! We need to keep walking by faith. God knows are hearts and he will be our shelter, or strength or stronghold. I will lift your name up in prayer.
Going through a spell of this….I’m praying as a Lenten request, from God to build in me, more “power” and confidence. More of the boldness of Jesus, and less of the timidness of me.
Gwen-
I so look forward to reading your column and your are truly an inspiration. Thank you for making me think. I struggle and you have helped me to stay focused.
Thank you,
This was a great message, I’ve been lost in day to day for a while. Thank you.
Thank you Gwen I needed that reminder as the Holy Spirit convicts me to spend more time with Him and not just leave it for “later” which is so easy to do in this busy world.