Something Right
A phone call was received by our receptionist late this afternoon by one who asked to speak with a pastor. Put on hold for a moment, the receptionist exhausted all options of pastors on staff to no avail. Last resort, the two beeps followed by her voice comes through the speaker of my desk phone saying, "There's someone on the phone requesting a pastor and you're the only one left here at this point." Offended? No. She wasn't being degrading. She was allowing me to get a lot of work done. But, thankfully, God gave me this opportunity and the reminder that helping people is the first and greatest blessing of being in the position of a pastor. Truth is, that title too often scares me. I allow intimidation to cause doubt in the ability to help people in adequate measure. Before I'm in any given position, I'm a Christian. Because of who Christ is in me, that's enough.
I picked up the phone, introduced myself, and cautiously awaited to hear what I was facing. Again, insecurity of being able to fulfill the title in which she requested. This person had a shaky voice and sounded broken as a statement was made followed by a question. "I have joined the corporate fast and praying of our Church which is now day three for me, but everything is going wrong in my life since I started. Am I doing something wrong?" My nerves calmed and my spirit was stirred at this desperate plea for help and understanding. I was clear in thought and felt a spiritual uprising because I, too, am participating in the twenty one days of praying, fasting, and giving. I recognized this moment as a faith builder and enemy defeater God was granting us as Christ followers. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me in a certain direction to share and I had complete peace in what He was saying through me. It's in Him and only Him that confidence arises for me. The turmoil in this person's mind of greater problems existing and old problems reoccurring in the midst of attempting to pray and fast was overwhelming. At the end of our conversation, I asked permission to pray. I felt the Prince of Peace bringing resolution to another statement made throughout the conversation, "I have no peace."
I have never been one to quote exact book, chapter, and verse of the Bible when teaching or even sharing. Unfortunately, that comes from not memorizing such. Now you start to understand why I was last on the choice of pastors today. However, the Holy Spirit does give me the source of the Scripture to share, knowing that it's His Word. In reading tonight, the subtle confirmation was given me when I was researching another matter.
I picked up the phone, introduced myself, and cautiously awaited to hear what I was facing. Again, insecurity of being able to fulfill the title in which she requested. This person had a shaky voice and sounded broken as a statement was made followed by a question. "I have joined the corporate fast and praying of our Church which is now day three for me, but everything is going wrong in my life since I started. Am I doing something wrong?" My nerves calmed and my spirit was stirred at this desperate plea for help and understanding. I was clear in thought and felt a spiritual uprising because I, too, am participating in the twenty one days of praying, fasting, and giving. I recognized this moment as a faith builder and enemy defeater God was granting us as Christ followers. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me in a certain direction to share and I had complete peace in what He was saying through me. It's in Him and only Him that confidence arises for me. The turmoil in this person's mind of greater problems existing and old problems reoccurring in the midst of attempting to pray and fast was overwhelming. At the end of our conversation, I asked permission to pray. I felt the Prince of Peace bringing resolution to another statement made throughout the conversation, "I have no peace."
I have never been one to quote exact book, chapter, and verse of the Bible when teaching or even sharing. Unfortunately, that comes from not memorizing such. Now you start to understand why I was last on the choice of pastors today. However, the Holy Spirit does give me the source of the Scripture to share, knowing that it's His Word. In reading tonight, the subtle confirmation was given me when I was researching another matter.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4 (NIV)
This person needed to be reminded, as do we all, trials of many kinds (temptation, relational, financial, etc.) don't just exist out of doing something wrong. The Bible is full of real people that faced such dilemmas for our understanding that is was the opposite. Consider and smile with the recognition of trials being present because you're doing something right. Obeying God and following the example of Christ in praying and fasting is doing something right.
The enemy is out to destroy those who seek a closer walk with God. Jesus was tempted and squared off with Satan while fasting and praying. The reason we can have peace and rejoice in the midst of taking the same steps is because we know the outcome. Jesus, in His flesh, needed and demonstrated perseverance during His 40 days of praying and fasting. That perseverance enabled Him to see the Father develop the fullness of His purpose while in flesh to complete maturity in His ministry. When we seek to obey God's Word and follow Christ, we can rejoice and have pure joy because our faith in Him will develop the perseverance to mature and be the complete vessel ready to fulfill His purpose in our life. Testing shows what we know. We know THE answer in all things. Obey God. Follow Christ. Consider the trials joy. You're doing something right.
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