Confession time. I do not love Mondays. When I first dreamed of preaching a series on work and faith, I dreamed of writing and preaching something from a place of consolation. In reality, this sermon series is from a place of desolation. “Loving Monday” is more for me than it is for you. I guess you (the congregation I serve, the online listener/reader) are just listening in.
Mondays are hard for me. I am a slow starter, low energy, steady and calm (for the most part). I feel the weight of the week before it begins. Pacing is important to me. I kind of know my limits for my workload but life demands much of you. You may know what I mean.
Some people may jump out of the gate with tenacity like a thoroughbred race horse or an Olympic sprinter. Some may start with high energy. “Crush the day” is their motto. Some are tortoises, some are hares. I think I’m more like the tortoise, not with the confident positive outlook of “slow and steady wins the race.” But actually more like with the attitude of Eeyore.
Yup. On Monday I’m down. I’m moody. It’s raining even when there’s not a cloud in the sky.
“The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually.” – Eeyore.
Even with Eeyore a cloud has it’s silver lining. Rain eventually stops.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has been doing some work in me over the past several weeks. He is leading me to be more attentive to how I feel and how what I do makes me feel. He is leading me to be more attentive to how he is actively engaged in all of my life. Including Monday. Monday is not a throw-away day. You know, “If I can just make it through Monday…”
I’m not simply to survive Monday but through the Holy Spirit, God can revive Monday.
I recently went to a revival at a church in my community. The place was wet with the Spirit. God was reigning powerfully that summer evening. He was reveling in his glory and raining blessings that night. I found myself on my knees, face to the ground, God was washing me in his manifest presence. This rain I never want to stop, God’s reign.
Loud worship was breaking out all around at that moment. Yet, on my knees
“In
The preacher that night preached an anointed message. She said that in our pride we often try to rob God of his Glory.
In my pride I try to fix Monday. If I “get through” Monday it is because of my own strength.
I don’t need a “get through.” I desire a “breakthrough.” That is something only God can give.
That is something Jesus wants to give you.
Trust him. In your weakness
Approaching Monday full of faith doesn’t happen face-up but facedown.
The Holy Spirit does his best work through confession and desolation. In confession, I admit that I am not God. In desolation, I am choosing to recognize the times in my day and my week where he feels distant.
I’m attempting to lean into the more-ness of God with facedown Mondays. The Holy Spirit has also been instructing me over and over again to preach in weakness, not in strength. What might he be saying to you?
My ability to love Monday is contingent on my attentiveness to the Spirit’s work in my weakness.
When I am down I am learning to be attentive to why I am down and draw near to his presence. I am learning draw near to his strength.
Instead of choosing to pump myself up and “get through” with an inflated, prideful self. God is teaching me that I can experience him more fully through his indwelling, present Spirit.
God loves me. With him, I can love Monday.
What has God been revealing to you? In what part of your life does the Spirit want you to be more attentive so that he can do his good work in you?
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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.