No, I am not writing about my mental state…although some may be thinking that. 🙂
Something else is on my mind.
SOMETIMES…GOD REALLY DISTURBS ME!
Now, before you accuse me of blasphemy hear me out. This past week I had a man stop in my office. He and his wife have been attending the past several months and have missed a few weeks due to moving. They were in attendance a week ago and will be gone for the next two while on a cruise. Since he comes from a different church background he asked me a question: “I know you obviously plan out your sermons. You have said so. I am wanting to know if you would ever change at the last minute?”
My answer was simple and plain. Yes and I have but not very often.
Can you say open mouth and make presumption? That is what happened yesterday. Saturday night as I studied I could not “get with the program.” The sermon fell on my dead ears. I can only imagine how it would go over with the masses. So I came to the office late Saturday night to redo my sermon. Interestingly, instead of being groggy (it was past my bedtime), I felt energized. I cut out a bunch of material. Added a bunch of new stuff. Went home feeling satisfied.
God’s sense of humor never ceases to amaze me. I still preached on the Virgin Birth but went at it a totally different way. I used Luke 1:25-36. The way I approached it makes the Virgin Birth no less important or essential to believe; I think it made it more understandable and practical.
I’ll share tomorrow (for the sake of length) one of the “new” insights I gained. Has God ever disturbed you like this, or had you get up in the middle of the night or stop what you are doing to pray for someone?
Yes, yes, yes, more then once. While I was working on my messages for the retreat God change several things on almost a daily bases at first. It seemed the more I studied the clearer what I was suppose to say got. it was like He fine tuned each session. I had pages of notes I did not use which was interesting. In fact He brought it down to one page for each session…which gave me lots of freedom. Look forward to your “new insight”.
you know exactly what I am talking about Betty.
He does that to me in the middle of sermons at the campground sometimes. Things start changing. It comes out a lot better.
That seems to be what happens to me also.
No I have never been disturbed by supernatural interventions.
I think I know the reason why. 🙂
This was a great post. I love how the two were connected.
Thanks Daniel. Sometimes I am surprised.
Yes, He has. What disturbs me is that I realize I often don’t hear him when he does it though. So, even though God interrupts me sometimes, I’m aware that I don’t always hear me when he does. Sometimes, in hindsight, I realized I missed him doing so. Make any sense?
Makes perfect sense Kari. It is so easy to miss out on His interruption.
To answer your question: yes. I cannot recall the last time this happened. But I can tell you that God disturbed me mightily a few summers ago when He sent me on a missions trip to a village in Guatemala. Since then, I have been back two more times, and I’m scheming about going back again. I want my heart to break for the things that break the heart of God – this is one way to be disturbed.
You are a perfect example of what happens when God gets a hold of someone Jon. It is easy to see on your blog how God has interrupted your world.
I have seen this phenomena happen both to my husband with his sermons and to me with Sunday school lessons and with blog posts and other writings. It is a scary place at first but then comes the peace. 🙂
you’re right Pam. It is scary to start with but very fulfilling when it happens.
Oh my goodness! Yes, God ruffles my feathers! I wrote a post once about how I love/hate my devotionals. Love them when they speak right to my heart at just the right time, “hate” when they speak right to my heart when I need to be convicted.
And yes, I think God shakes His head at me sometimes and shakes His head. Fortunately, I think He still smiles!
I cannot tell you the many times that I have awakened in the middle of the night, or early in the morning with ideas starting to flow. Sometimes I try to keep them at bay, but always find that I have to get up and start writing what God is saying. And yes, sometimes when I have insomnia, I pray for my stuff and for others. It helps.
My very best wishes to you and yours for a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! May your home be filled with His love, joy, and peace!
GOD BLESS!
I have that same kind of love/hate relationship with my devos also Sharon. I personally am glad God has a sense of humor. I too wish you and your family a Christmas filled with the wonder of the Savior.
Oh, yes! When writing my novels, God has intervened when it was least expected and given me exactly the direction I needed at the time! I’m so thrilled He did this for you, Bill! May He continue to do so in both of our lives as we move forward.
Oh, and by the way, have said prayers for you and this sermon since you posted last. Is not the power of prayer overwhelming?
Love and blessings!
it is a good thing what you have experienced Martha. Seems to me He has a better idea of how your novels ought to go than you. Thanks for your prayers. I was pleased how God changed the direction in which I was heading and set me on a different course.
I’ve done this a few times while teaching. Most of the time for me, God doesn’t totally change my plan on teaching. But moreso that specific aspects of it stick out and I end up spreading the subject out over several weeks. I’ve had a few late Saturdays as I just felt compelled to alter the plan.