I Don't Want to Get Out!

 I don’t want to get out.  It’s a problem. 

In the morning I am in that half waking state between dreams and reality and realize it’s almost time to get up.  I think to myself, ‘I don’t want to get out of bed.’  It’s warm and cozy.  I love dreaming.  My dog is soft and snoozing beside me.  I don’t want to get out…but… I do.

I get up and use every ounce of self-discipline and maturity I can muster to do the right thing and take my pajamas off in spite of the cold.  Brrr, I hate the cold.  I don’t want to get out of my pajamas.  They are comfy and soft but I have to take a shower.  I don’t want to get out…but… I do.

I get out of my pajamas and pop into the shower.  Thank God for hot water. What did people do before?  How did they muster the courage to wash anything in cold weather with cold water?!  God bless them I am grateful to live in the 21^st century where I can crank that knob all the way to hot and wait just a minute before the steam is rolling out.  I pop in the shower and handle my biniss.  Then it happens.  I’m done…but I don’t want to get out.  I don’t want to get out of the warm water.  Cold air hitting my wet body is not my favorite thing.  It becomes the game of ‘how fast can I dry off and grab my robe before I’m ‘too’ cold? I don’t want to get out of the warm shower…but… I do. 

I get ready, walk the dog & pray, make the breakfast, and watch the clock until the inevitable happens.  I have to get out of the house.  I don’t want to get out of the house.  Some people are morning people and God bless them…but I’m not.  I’d rather sip some decaf, read a morning devotional, take my leisurely time to pray and pet my dog.  But no, I have to get out.  Get out of the house and make the money to HAVE a home, decaf, and my dog.  Yes, decaf, people.  Is that seriously all you can focus on?  I don’t want to get out of the house…but… I do.

Into the car, listen to some great tunes, shoot up some more prayers and get to work.  Depending on the song… seriously… I don’t want to get out.  The Eagles; Hotel California.  Queen; Bohemian Rhapsody.  Billy Joel; Piano Man. Phil Collins; Against All Odds. You can’t just turn that off.  I don’t want to get out…but… I do.

I’m really blessed to work in a place where we pray at the start of each day.  We share prayer requests and lift up ministry issues.  Then we worship.  We put on a song and enter into the presence of God.  It’s one thing to pray at home, to linger in the presence of the Spirit and receive revelation for life, but at work with so many like-minded believers there is an open heaven.  It’s like the domain that has been carved out by long hours of intercession and intentionality allows for a fullness I’ve rarely reached on my own.  When the Spirit is flowing… I don’t want to get out.  I know there’s work to be done and I can feel it nagging at me.  I know there is someone sitting to my right and my left but somehow they fade away.  When the right lyrics touch my personal situation and I understand so clearly the direction God is taking me I simply do not want to get out of that moment.  I want more.  More of the peace that surpasses ALL of my understanding.  More of the divine dizziness that causes me to feel light headed.  More of the conversation that comes so clearly when I am pressing into Him.  More.  More.  More.  I do not want to get out and go back to work, back to what calls.  Back to the hustle and bustle of life.  I’m benefitted for having been there and never leave with less than I entered in with. 

I don’t want to get out… and I don’t really have to.  His presence is the one thing I don’t really have to get out of.  I don’t have to leave Him behind.  I don’t have to exit the peace.  I don’t have to leave the warmth, the comfort or the grace. 

I don’t want to get out… so I don’t.