I woke up this morning just “awake”, very awake. Still dark outside. Figured it was about 5:30. Grabbed my phone to check the time. It was 4:14. A.M. I’m on Christmas break, so it’s ok to sleep in a little, won’t be an option in a few more days. Decided to stay put, check the weather, read the news for a few minutes, probably go right back to sleep. Phone went dead. Time to choose.
When I woke up, before I ever opened my eyes, I heard it subtly. When I saw that it was still dark outside and my phone said 4:14, earlier than I had hoped it would be, I heard it more clearly. When my phone went dead the second I leaned back into my pillows I heard it loud and clear. That subtle voice, “I need to meet with you”.
After ignoring it twice, I chose to get up.
A few minutes later with coffee in hand I arrived at my table in the living room. That’s the meeting place for my impromptu, often middle of the night, meetings. I opened my Guidepost devotional to Thursday December 29th. The verse at the top of the page that anchored today’s story was John 10:27……… “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me”. I can’t make this stuff up.
The story was written by a man that had received encouragement by witnessing the caring actions of another. This encouragement led him to step out of his comfort zone. By doing so he met the needs of another, without setting out to do so. It just happened. His faith was strengthened further. That’s how it works.
He closed his story by stating that we may not always understand why God asks us to do something (like get out of bed in the middle of the night) but we need know that when he does that there is always a reason. That obedience to His call is more important than understanding why we are being called. Obedience opens the door for the Holy Spirit to work in our life.
I believe God woke me up this morning to test me, to strengthen me and to complete an assignment. I faithfully answered His call to meet with Him. In doing so He strengthened my faith through a story, another man’s work, reminding me of the importance of obedience and to trust that if I am called there is always a reason. The assignment? Write it down and share it.
Look, I’m not preaching to anyone. As I have said before I share what God reveals to me in a story. I seek Him, He speaks to me, I write it down, I share it. This doesn’t come from me, it comes through me. Words literally leap off the page at me these days and stories just materialize around them.
That’s the best explanation I can provide because it simply can’t be explained. Except to say it is straight up AWESOME!
I’ve stopped trying to understand why and just do my part. The writing is for me but, also, it is for someone else, somewhere at some point in time.
That part is not up to me, that’s not my part but………that’s how it works!
Get in the boat. Do your part.
Shane / #16
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