Thursday, October 25, 2012

Meet me on Damascus Road...


This morning when I sat down to write, I heard nothing, saw nothing…had NOTHING! I sat waiting and prayed again. Shortly, after that I started singing “Speak oh Speak” by the Brockmans. The lyrics simply say “Speak oh speak, Holy Spirit. Come and have your way. Speak oh Speak Holy Spirit. Here I am, I’m open.” Sometimes, we get so caught up in how we think God is going to move in our lives that we miss what He’s doing. God doesn’t need our permission or our plans on how to move in our lives, He just does what He does. We’ve been raised in a society that teaches us to speak our minds and take control of our own destiny. Some of us have our lives planned out through retirement and beyond. We’re comfortable with our ideas and have figured out our purpose and we’re running along with that.  But what happens when God throws a turnaround moment in there?

Do you remember the Damascus Road? Saul was comfortable in his role as persecutor. He thought his main purpose in life was to stop the spread of Christ’s message and he did all he could to fulfill that purpose. When we meet up with him in Acts 9, Saul is headed to Damascus to arrest any believers that he finds there and bring them to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (vs 3 – 6 NLT) Have you ever been moving along at your own pace and doing your own thing, when God stopped you in your tracks? It didn’t necessarily mean that you were a terrible person, but God had something else in mind for you. Are you ready for a turnaround?

Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.  He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. (vs. 8 & 9 NLT) Some of us have been walking in darkness for so long that our eyes have become accustomed to it. Jesus had to literally lay Saul out so that all he could focus on was Him. During those 3 days, Jesus was doing a restorative work on Saul. He was preparing Saul for his resurrection as a new creature. In the midst of this, Jesus sends Ananias to lay hands on him. I love this part of the story because it shows that no matter at what state you find yourself, Jesus loves you enough to send someone to see about you. Notice what Jesus says in verses 11 & 12. “The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”  Ananias did not want to go help Saul because he knew of the awful things that he had done but Jesus said “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. (v 15) Are you ready for a turnaround?

You see, even in your mess or circumstance, God has a plan for your life. You may not be able to understand why you’re stuck in a dead end job or why your children are not living out their lives the way you expected or even why your husband is out of order. Please know that God is not taken unawares.  He sees the greatness that you can’t recognize. Saul was converted from a murderer to immediately preaching the Gospel.  How much more do you think God can change you from lost to found, from sad to joyous, from burdened down to free? It’s time to let God do what He does. You don’t have to figure it out; you just have to let Him do it. Damascus Road is not just for sinners, it’s for anyone searching for that new start.  If you’re struggling to find your way, take a stroll down Damascus Road, Jesus Christ will meet you there and He’ll come with light that beats back your darkness.

Today, I speak light and life to your spirit! I encourage you to allow God to shift things in His time and lead you where He would have you to go! The final chorus of the Brockman’s song says “We say Yes, Holy Spirit! Come and have your way! We say Yes, Holy Spirit. Here I am…I’m open!” It may cost you something comfortable but it will change your life! Are you ready for your turnaround?

God bless…AMEN

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