From Fantasy to Reality

Do you think withholding something from someone that might save their life is wrong? Do you think failing to give comfort to someone who is hurting is wrong? Yes? Well, so do I. Just think about this for a moment. When we have thoughts or ideas about doing something we know will benefit others, but we never get past just thinking about them, it’s called fantasizing or daydreaming. I’ve come to understand through the experiences we’ve discussed and other encounters with the Lord that I was being very selfish in my hesitation to obey His urging. I heard Bill Johnson say in a recent sermon, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” Ugh! I have been so guilty of doing exactly this many times.

I shudder to think of the people I missed reaching out to because I procrastinated. Could I be responsible for someone never receiving salvation? God forbid! No matter what is going on in your life, take heed of those opportunities before you. They are there within reach. We just have to grasp them and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in accomplishing His will concerning them.

You hear the Lord speaking more often than you realize. He speaks to us in many ways. When we read the bible, He speaks to us and teaches us His ways. He speaks to us through other people. Have you ever been praying or thinking about something, and someone starts a conversation about that very thing, and suddenly you see the solution? When we pray, if we focus and listen, He reveals things to us. He communicates with us through dreams and visions. I have had many of those. What some people call instinct or a gut feeling is our spirit in tune with His. It can be the gifts of discernment or wisdom working through us. Ask the Lord to help you be more aware of His interaction with you. I have asked Him to help me hear Him more clearly. I used to ask Him to speak more clearly to me, but I realized He always does, and I just need to hear more clearly.

Also, don’t worry about the resources needed to complete an assignment. I have seen the Lord move time and time again to provide what we needed to fulfill our calling. I recently was down on my face at church, worshipping the Father and telling Him I trusted Him to bring in the finances needed to do some repairs and improvements to our building. We are a small group, so there is not a lot of income to cover more than monthly utilities, insurance, etc. By the end of that same day, someone donated $500 to my ministry. By the end of the week, there had been donations of a little over $1000. Plenty to take care of what I needed to have done. The really shocking part—not a single person who donated had ever attended my church. They were just led by the Spirit to give. God is so faithful to provide what we need when we trust and believe. He never breaks His promises:

“Everything you pray for with the fullness of faith you will receive!” (Matthew 21:22, CSB)

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalms 81:10, CSB)

“And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, CSB)