But before I go....... I wanted to share with you a short devotion I just read.
Lets see if it hits you like it did me.
Strange Instructions
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
02-05-2009
"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands" (2 John 6).
A distinguished Indian evangelist named Sadhu Chellappa was on a mission trip to a village north of Madras, when in the middle of the night he suddenly sensed God speaking to him: "Leave this house quickly and run away!"
Not exactly a convenient thing to do. But Chellappa was accustomed to accepting even strange instructions from the Lord without debate, so he dressed quickly and ran into the darkness.
After a while, he was in open country. As he passed beneath a large tree, he felt God tell him, "Stay here and start to preach!" Now, even for an experienced evangelist, this was puzzling--because there was no one to be seen. Why did God want him to preach to an empty field in the middle of the night? But he stopped under the tree and began to preach the gospel.
Finally, he reached the point at which he called on his unseen listeners to give their lives to Jesus. He was surprised to hear a voice from the top of the tree and see a man climb down, crying. The man tearfully gave his life to Jesus. When Chellappa asked why he was in a tree out in the middle of nowhere, the man admitted, "I came out here to hang myself."
How is your obedience quotient? God calls us to be obedient to that small voice inside that can direct us to sometimes do strange things. Jesus was obedient in ALL things. "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Rom 5:19). God can do exceedingly great things through one man or woman who is willing to be obedient to God's voice. Ask for His grace today to be obedient to His voice.
Made me sit here and go....hmmmm.When is the last time I head Him say RUN! and I did?
Did this hit you like it did me?
How I long to be used like this. And I do think that sometimes we hear His voice and act without some huge understanding that it was even Him speaking. Maybe sometimes as females we just thought it was our female intuition.
So when was the last time you stopped "under a tree" to proclaim the gospel?
Really, I would love to hear the story.
7 comments:
my under the tree moments are stopping and praying for someone when God brings them to mind...STOPPING RIGHT THEN.
I long to be used like this, too...
I cannot think of one under the tree moment. Perhaps my ears need to be attuned and my feet ready.
I hope to have a story next time you ask!
Enjoy your exercise, dear friend!
That story humbles me. I cannot say that that kind of communication with God occurs on a regular basis with me. I did quite clearly hear Him to tell me to write a letter to my hubby laying out a plan to quit my job and pray. Which I did. And hubby agreed that it was good for me to quit and stay home with the children. I had prayed and asked for direction though as this was my heart's desire. I can't imagine having some odd direction come out of the blue...I wonder if I would heed it! Usually there comes the sense that this is from the Lord...it would have to be STRONG. Very humbling story. Oh to walk that closely with God. A goal to be sure!
Mmm. the closest thing to the "under the tree" moments right now are the moments I am impressed to put my daily/nightly "routine" aside and "be" there with my son or husband or both. Or to go visit or call my parents....and LISTEN...I can't tell you the sweetness each time I do this, it is never without reward.
I LOVE this story and DESIRE to hear and obey...not there...YET! :)
Love,
Maria
Wow. I haven't had time to day to read this one. That would be an incredible moment...wouldn't it...
I think I agree with someone else mine would have to be stopping and praying when someone came across my mind. And also to send someone a note of encouragement if the crossed my mind.
Hope you had a good work out today...meaning too that I hope you are not too sore ;)
Wow, really makes me think sis, love you.
I absolutely love when God directs me and He did just that right now. Your post is a continuation of what God keeps directing me to and teaching me on how to hear from Him better and more clearly.
Thank you!! You look great by the way!
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