This morning when my alarm went off, I asked God for more rest. Next thing I know, it was much later. When I realized the time, I jumped up and made my way to the bathroom and then straight to the prayer closet, but while I was on my way to the prayer closet, I felt myself feeling guilty for sleeping later. I heard the Holy Spirit say (before I even got to the prayer closet): “Check your progression.”

As I made my way to the prayer closet and started praying, the Holy Spirit confirmed what I said to him as I read Psalms 8. The verses that stood out to me were 4-8:

4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?

5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—

7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,

8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

Psalm 8:4-8 NLT

While reading this and the study notes, I realized that Holy Spirit was showing me that it’s not about how many times I got up at the exact right time or if I slept a little bit longer. It’s not about if I wake up at 3 a.m, 3:30 a.m., or 5 a.m. or 5:17 a.m. It is definitely about obedience though. Now if God says to specifically wake up at those times, we are to do it because there is a purpose behind it. But He wanted to show me this morning that it’s ultimately about my progression in obedience. As a human, I won’t always get it exactly right. We see that from some of the most notable folks in the Bible, but we should always be progressing toward right.

In verse 6 it says God made us ruler over everything He made and gave us authority over it.

Even though we fell into sin, Jesus Christ came to redeem us. We are Christ followers and God’s kingdom plan still prevails. So therefore as followers of Christ, we are called to exercise authority on earth in Jesus Christ’s name and model His kingdom rule. We are to boldly live our lives as disciples and diligently equip others to do the same.

I jumped to Matthew 28:19-20 because this is the part of scripture that tells me how I am to be living as a disciple. Now you may ask, what is a disciple? A disciple is a learner who seeks to become like the one whom he or she is following. The goal of discipleship, then, is to help people become progressively like Christ in character, conduct, attitude, and actions. Discipleship is the key element of God’s kingdom agenda.

So instead of looking at what time I got up, the Holy Spirit wanted me to look at my progression as His disciple. He wanted me to not be checking my wake up time record, but to be checking my discipleship record.

How do we know if we are making progress as disciples?

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

Per the assignment, we can know if we are making progress by checking if we are:

1. Going (evangelism)

2. Baptizing (public identification)

3. Teaching (explaining the meaning and application of God’s Word).

The question is not did you wake up on time every single time, the question is, are you making disciples?

How are we progressing ON OUR ASSIGNMENT?

SALVATION PRAYER

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re not a believer, but you have a desire to be, all you have to do is openly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community, stay connected to other believers, and start having daily conversations through prayer with God every single day. Welcome to your new life with Jesus Christ!!!

ASSIGNMENTS

1. What did Holy Spirit say to you in your conversation with Him this morning?

2. Are you making disciples?

3. Are you becoming more like culture or more like Christ?

4. Record yourself reading the word of God on video or audio and watch how God will use your own voice to give you revelation and build your faith (keeping this assignment on here for a while).

5. Leave me a message on the Anchor.Fm podcast app or Text Me at 601-299-4398! Share this blog post/podcast with someone who needs encouraging. Share buttons below.

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