When it comes to doing the “hard stuff” in life, I would say our society is a bunch of overachievers in the excuse-making-I-will-get-to-it-later category.
Wanna get fit and eat clean? I will start on Monday.
Ready to save some dinero? Maybe next pay period.
Jesus wants us me to do what now? Uh, perhaps when it is less scary/more peaceful season of life/you fill in the blank.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m totally not judging. Because I do the same thing.
But sometimes I have to think my rather, um, motivated Tiny Human might be onto something with all of her “RIGHT NOW” shenanigans. (Although we are working on the manners/less rude part of her “demands.”
So really friends, when it comes to following the Big Man Upstairs, immediate obedience is not overrated. There is really something to this RIGHT NOW gig.
Let me tell you why.
A few weeks ago, we just finished another PWOC program. #Whew So, naturally, as El Presidente of the bunch, my brain soon shifted to thinking about our next program that was a solid six weeks away.
We had already been in prayer for what the Lord’s vision might be, and we were pretty certain it was something about marriage.
I was casually praying about who to invite to be our guest speaker, with the complete intention that it would be someone (or a group of someones) local, within our body.
God plunked a name of what I would call a “rather famous” woman on my heart to invite to speak. Although I had promoted a new book of hers last fall, I had never met the gal in real life.
So what did I do? I laughed. (Probably a bit like Sarah when God said she would have a son at her age.) Yeah right, Lord. I must be hearing things. Because THIS is impossible.
So on I went with my week.
Then, a few days later, I was in line for the restroom at church. And wouldn’t you know it… Right there on the bulletin board was a picture of the same lady that God told me to invite to speak at our next program, advertising that she would be in the Pacific Northwest around the same time as our PWOC program.
Um, ok, Jesus. You have my attention.
Thus, I sent an-out-of-left-field-email.
And long story still long, SHAUNTI FELDHAHN IS COMING TO SPEAK AT OUR PROGRAM!
(Glad God gave me a few-days buffer on the immediate obedience thing…)
Seriously friends. I. Cannot. Even. God did this. And it just because I was (halfway-ish) listening. And sent a single email. (Well, and prayed up a storm in the meantime…)
Immediate obedience is NOT in fact overrated. How divine is it that RIGHT NOW is the final piece of our Lewis 2015-2016 Theme.
Real Love. Right Life. RIGHT NOW. Not tomorrow. Not in a week. Not next year.
RIGHT. NOW.
And so now, my sisters, I rejoice in how God continues to work– and I also encourage you to be listening to what He might be calling you to do right now.
Immediate obedience pays off. Don’t believe me? Just ask Shaunti when she comes to visit!!!
For His Glory Now and Forever,
“Know this well, then. Take it to heart right now: God is in Heaven above; God is on Earth below. He’s the only God there is. Obediently live by his rules and commands which I’m giving you today so that you’ll live well and your children after you—oh, you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.” ~Deuteronomy 4:39-40 MSG
PS: Want to know more or attend our upcoming PWOC Program? Email Programs.LewisPWOC@gmail.com or get connect with our PWOC Facebook Page.
