This week is brought to you by the letter D, and the word disrupt. The origin of this term is not something we would naturally be drawn toward — “broken apart”. Yikes, that feels like a direction I would rather avoid. There are enough relationships, circumstances, and dreams that are crushed throughout life.

So why? Why am I highlighting this unwelcome word? 

Honestly, it's God.

For this gal, routine is king 👑. I thrive with regular rhythms and can get frustrated with anything that interferes. Yet, it happens. Small interruptions — out of our control — are typically temporary. Disruptions are different. They are meant to alter the norm. They can reshape an idea and refine an inclination — crashing into our comfort zones and threatening our assumptions.

At times the collision and confusion happen TO us, but occasionally WE must be the initiator of the wrecking. That sounds crazy, right? Yet there are times we need to disrupt our flesh in order to feed our spirit.

[For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.] Luke 5v9-11

The Jewish men who followed Jesus were all about customs and habits. Reciting the same prayers daily, resting weekly on Sabbath, as well as feasting and fasting in consistent cycles. Uniformity was the name of the game. 

Therefore, when Jesus showed up on the scene, He turned everything upside-down. This new-to-the-neighborhood rabbi upset their religious rhythms. How was this permitted? And in response, what was their next step in participation? The Messiah arrived, unveiled, and invited these fishermen to disrupt their lives. Peter and his friends did just that. In fact, Scripture says they left everything and followed Jesus.   

What an about-face! Consider it — in one day, after one message, at one encounter — everything changed for these guys and their families. The effect was radical and eternal. What about you? Need a disruption? 

Upset your morning scroll by reading an extra 10 minutes of God's Word. Upset your work commute by driving in silence and listening to the Holy Spirit. Upset lunchtime, a bathroom break, or a nighttime habit by memorizing a powerful passage of Scripture. (My recommendation is Ephesians 6:10-18 or Psalm 27.)  God invites us to shake up our routines and stretch our spirits.