He didn’t speak to me with an audible voice or anything like that, but this past week, God very clearly asked me to do something, and I really didn’t want to do it. As I was doing my Read. Write. Pray. he guided me in a way that was unmistakable. I couldn’t get out of it, even if I wanted to. I had just finished reading a book of the Bible and was trying to figure out what I should do next. I thought I’d go back to something I had set aside for a while, but as I was flipping to it a different book of the Bible caught my eye. I thought, “I want to do that book!” So I stopped there instead.
As I read that first chapter, I very clearly saw that I was supposed to say something to someone. I didn’t want to, so I said, “I gotta read the next chapter so that I can get the context.” I read the next chapter, hoping I’d be off the hook, but nope. The next chapter was about exactly what I was being convicted of saying to this person. Dang…. Just to make absolutely sure, I brought it to Joe. Surely he would tell me I didn’t have to do it. But nope.
He said it was very clear. Oh, boy. I couldn’t deny what he wanted me to do, but I really did NOT want to say this. It would be hard. It would require repentance. It would require me to put my relationship on the line – what if they didn’t want to hear his message? I put it off a couple days, trying to find the right time, but then something happened that made me realize I needed to speak this message, and right now!
I tried to find a time to do it in person, but ended up writing it out in an email instead. So the message has been delivered, even though I was terrified of doing it. However, I know that God has a purpose for it, and if it’s his message, he will use it for good, he will change hearts, and it will be so much better than if I had remained silent. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the courage to speak your message, for being persistent with me. And I pray that I would continue to be willing to hear from you and obey as you direct me.
Time will tell if the message works how I hope it will. Please pray with me that the receiver will have their heart changed.
