As I was reading this old entry and squirming under the conviction of these remembrances, it occurred to me that since that time, there has been another time I refused to step out of my Comfort zone and do what every fiber of my Soul was demanding.

I had accompanied Pete to a doctor's appointment and we were leaving.  We were on the elevator headed back down.  On the floor below us, the elevator stopped and a couple came on board.  As soon as the elevator doors closed a compulsion came over me to go to the couple, ask if I could pray for them, lay my hands upon their shoulders and pray.  Yet, there I stood, frozen in place.  Not moving, nor speaking.  My mind was whirling, arguing with my soul.  With God's Holy Spirit voice.  "If I am wrong, they will be offended!  Pete will think I am crazy."  (Pete was not yet saved at the time.)  As we lurched ever downward, I began to pray silently in my head.  For God's forgiveness.  That my weakness would not stop Him from bestowing upon them what He wanted to.  That he would bless them, comfort them, heal them and meet their needs.

You might say, "Well, certainly God understood.  You still prayed for them."  But I submit to you, is half obedience, obedience at all?  If you told your teenager absolutely no drinking and be home by midnight, would you consider them obedient if they staggered inside at 11:30pm?  Or if they rolled in cold sober at two in the morning?  I think not.  I know God forgave me.  But I also know He was disappointed that I didn't let Him bless me by being fully obedient to Him.  Everything in me, told me that couple would be grateful and really needed that expression of God's love right then.  I let doubt and "reason" sway me from the course.  I missed another experience I could have cherished.  Much more than that, I let down the One who gave All for me.

What about about you?   Are you always radically obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit?  Have you ever made excuses and missed an opportunity you regretted?

Even if you don't feel like sharing, take my lesson to heart and let it be yours. Don't miss an opportunity to serve the Living God!

Barbara