Hmm….. Well….. Maybe….. I don’t know….. Really??? Hmm….
Those are the thoughts that typically go through my mind when I feel like the Lord is calling me to do something out of the ordinary. If I’m not careful I can let those thoughts play on a reel over and over again until weeks have passed.
Why the delay? Sometimes it’s because I just don’t want to do it. Sometimes it’s because I simply don’t have time to do it. Sometimes it’s because I don’t know how to do it. Whatever the reason may be – I have to wonder sometimes. Does the delay of doing something God has placed on my heart – – or put in my path – – alter the results that He intended?
We aren’t robots. God doesn’t force us to do anything. But have you ever thought about what’s riding on your decision to do something now or later?
I remember when I lived in St. Louis du Nord. Just trying to go from my house to my clinic was a battle – and the clinic was just across the street. There were always people waiting for me at the foot of the steps. It could take me an hour sometimes before I could make it across that street. It was frustrating because I felt like I got very little accomplished on those days. I like check-lists. I like knowing when I go to bed at night that I have done everything I was supposed to do that day.
I used to make a game of it. I’d send Jose out first & he would signal me the “all clear sign” so I knew I could make a dash before getting stopped. St. Louis was always buzzing with activity and it was really easy to get distracted. You could be busy ALL day long and never really get anything accomplished.
Looking back at those days – I have to wonder. Were there people I was hiding from that God had sent looking for me? Were those distractions I complained about – – God-ordained appointments? Were the things that kept me from doing ministry – really the ministry God was calling me to do?
Over the past few years God has really been working on my heart; He’s impressed upon me how important His timing is. I feel Him nudge me in one way or another nearly every day…..from the simple things to the very overwhelming things.
Those mind games that I play – questions/doubts/delays – are becoming shorter and shorter. I’m beginning to feel the pressure that my delay in doing what He asks could actually effect Kingdom advancement.
I don’t want to be the reason why His plans didn’t unfold like He wanted…. because remember He doesn’t force us to do anything. We make choices every single day whether to bend/adhere to His will for our lives or not.
AND – if you think about it…. it’s pretty cool to be the personal assistant to the Holy Spirit. There’s not a better job out there than being apart of the Master’s grand plan right? So knowing that – shouldn’t it keep us from ignoring those whispers we know are from above? Shouldn’t it actually be exciting instead of scary to do His will?
So today I’m thankful that God continues to nudge me – continues to bring me out of my comfort zone – continues to press upon me the urgency in the things He needs for me to do – continues to let me participate in His master plan….. AND yet also extends His patience, mercy, & grace when I drag things out longer than they need to be.
SO Thankful…Day 19
I am someone who is always thinking. My mind is constantly processing things and coming up with ideas. Not all my ideas are good ideas. For that matter not all my thinking is good thinking either!! LOL!
Sometimes it’s hard to know what thoughts are mine and what thoughts are from God. A few months ago I wrote a blog about the darkness in the Mole. I was sitting outside and noticing how dark the mountains were. I remembered some of my childhood and how scared my friends were of the dark. I had this idea come to me – what if we bought lights for the homes so the children wouldn’t be afraid? What if we turned their dark into day?
Hmm. I thought about it some and decided it would be too expensive and too complicated. So a few days passed and the idea resurfaced. I thought about it some more and decided – I really just don’t have the time or energy to pour into that thought.
A few weeks later the idea came back to me again. It had now been 5 weeks. Finally I realized that this wasn’t just an “idea” – this was the Lord’s prodding!
I had wasted 5 weeks ignoring the nudging of the Lord. When we passed out the lights a few weeks ago the impact it had was far greater than any idea I could come up with.
So many of the Haitians wanted the lights but not what it represented. They were afraid it would upset the spirits. Just like we wouldn’t want a voodoo statue in our house – they felt the same way about the light. We didn’t force them to take the light. We offered it. And every house took it.
When the staff got back together we talked about the power of the light!
I knew….
1 – Mothers would use it for their babies
2 – Kids could study by it.
3 – Adults could read their Bible by it
4 – It would help calm fears
5 – It would remind people they weren’t alone – God is there!
The staff told me all those things were true. HOWEVER there was a greater use of the light. They said there are homes tonight that are contemplating what that light really means. There are homes sensing the presence of the Lord that have never felt His power before! There is a spiritual battle taking place tonight of – good vs. evil – – light vs. darkness.
The staff talked with such conviction that it gave me chills! Here I was running from this idea. I thought it was too costly. I thought it was too much work. I could have really blown this great opportunity to reach people in His name.
Is the Lord nudging you to do something? To give something? To quit something? To sacrifice something? Are you making excuses? Are you running? Do you realize that YOU might be the missing piece in His Master Plan?
So today I am thankful the Lord doesn’t give up on me when I delay His work!
For constantly nudging me and ALLOWING me to be a part of His Master Plan!
