As of yesterday morning, Saturday April 29, 2017, it had been a week since my last blog post. I occasionally “re-post” existing stories on different sites but I needed some new material for my blog, “The1SixProject”. So, I began thinking Saturday about what I could post the coming week.
I have dozens of “ideas” for blog topics written down and a handful of stories that are “almost done”. One in particular titled, “Light Brings Life”, came to mind Saturday and stayed with me throughout the day.
Finishing that particular story has been troublesome. The beginning is strong but weeks later I still haven’t been able to find the words to finish it. I understand now why the finish has escaped me. Clearly the story was to be finished in His time and for His purposes, not mine.
I went to bed Saturday night with the story on my mind. When I woke up Sunday morning the story was still there. Still front and center. That was enough to tell me this was the one to post this coming week. As a Christian the Holy Spirit will guide you. It’s very cool.
So, as I was led, I committed myself to finishing that story as my next post. Problem was I still had no close for it. However, feeling that God put that story in my mind I mentally committed to finishing it. Key words, ” I committed”. Remember that part.
That was around 6:30 Sunday morning. What happened in the next 15 minutes was affirmation. What happened later that morning at church was down right arm tingling amazing. That’s how it works. Favor almost isn’t fair.
In the 15 minutes between my feet hitting the floor and arriving at my table to read my morning devotional I remembered an event from my early childhood. A memory of darkness and light. The memory seemed fitting. The condensed version goes like this………..
When I was about 8 or 9 years old I spent the night away from home. Had a great two days away but the night was long for a little guy. I had to sleep alone and it was DARK. I remembered laying (or is it lying?) in bed being really scared all night. It was pitch black and every time I woke up I would look towards the window, which faced East, hoping too see some light. Dawn finally arrived and I survived the night. But I didn’t forget the darkness. 40 years later that memory of darkness was useful to describe the comfort of light. That’s how it works.
Back to Sunday morning. I arrived at my table to read my morning devotional. The first paragraph of that devotional is what you see in the photo above. It tells the story of a sunrise pushing out the darkness, which is exactly what happened in my childhood memory. The memory that had only moments ago been pushed to the front of my mind. The one that was to help me finish my story. That’s affirmation! It gets better…….
Feeling confirmed and energized I went to church, arriving expectantly as I often talk about. John Riggin delivered the sermon. He told of not so fond memories he had as a younger man and how over time God used those memories for good in his life as he grew older. The fact he was delivering a sermon using them was evidence in and of itself of bad being used for good.
John also spoke of how our memories help form our reality later in life. How times of worry, fear or pain are often changed for the purpose of good when we let Jesus in our life and He changes not just us but the meaning of life itself. Often using those prior memories as the catalyst for a positive purpose later in our life. I had Never thought about it like that but it made so much sense when it was presented to me in that context. That’s how it works.
Here is the thing:
- I asked God to help me with a story for the coming week. One that would glorify Him, not me.
- He placed an un-finished story in my mind that I mentally “committed” to finishing.
- Within minutes of “committing” God supplied a finish, a close, that had evaded me for weeks.
- He affirmed that finish through the devotional, which you see in the picture above.
- Later that morning He affirmed that finish yet again through John’s sermon.
- On top of that He revealed to me how He uses past events of our life, often painful, to mold who we are today in order to complete His work through us.
- Direction and assistance followed my “Commitment”.
- Obedience to the Holy Spirits calling (finish THIS story) resulted in affirmation and teaching.
- That’s How It Works!
Proverbs 16:3 states: “Commit your ways to the lord and your plans will be established”.
Commitment is the key. It’s the game changer. God opens doors no man can open and when He opens them no man can shut them. Commit your ways, your work, to Him and watch what happens in your life!
Get in the boat. Do your part.
1:6 / Nose to Toes / #16
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