I want to live an obedient life. Not because I am afraid of the wrath of God (Ok, being face to face would not be the same as talking with my son or wife) but because I am becoming more and more aware of just how much God loves me and the price Jesus paid to buy me. My heart wells up with gratitude and I know I have only so much time to live by faith. I can get lazy from time to time in my quest to serve Jesus. To help fight this off I ask myself a few questions. I understand I need others for encouragement but if I am not proactive in this journey of following Jesus my life will be over before I know it and I will have lost this chance to make Jesus known, to serve him, to love him by giving my life away.
1. God, who do you want me to talk with about Jesus?
2. God, how can I serve today?
3. God, what promise of yours do you want me to believe in more?
I can hear some people saying we need to talk to everyone, serve the whole world and believe all of the promises. Yeah, yeah, yeah…in due time. In my experience God focuses me in on one or two promises at a time, brings to mind one or two people, and asks me to do one or two things. He rarely grocery lists me (an overwhelming list). He knows it would overwhelm. He also expects that I will pursue what he directs me to do, not pick and choose like I am at a buffet.
I’m a list maker, making a list and crossing things off as they get accomplished gives me great satisfaction.
The questions that you presented make a great list. A great way to get encouragement for those times I just don’t feel like I’m serving God. By putting them in my head, not only will I consciously make an effort to do them, I will also recognize when I am doing them and be encouraged by that process.
For instance I recognized a cashier at a store the other day. I started to ask her if she had worked somewhere else in town. She said that she just moved here a couple of weeks ago, and that she was from the Wayland area. Then I realized it was one of the churches out there that has a Celebrate Recovery program. That is where I met her. I gave her a card with our church information and invited her to come. When I left the store I prayed for her and thanked God that He put her back in my life and I made myself open to what He has in mind for us. God doesn’t do things by chance.
I did not consciously think that day…”who can I talk to about Jesus” “how can I serve you today God” “who do you want me to pray for”. Many times I have ended my day with, “I didn’t do anything for you today God”. But….having a list makes me spend a little more time in thought of what I am doing. Much needed encouragement.