Moved by God
Wednesday January 10, 2007 | (2) Comments | James Waugh
There are very few times when I have noticed my heart being stirred by God. Does that make me shallow? Does that make me weak? I know what you are thinking – surely your heart has been stirred by God – those promptings you feel deep down inside – the ache you can’t get rid of that continues to nag at your soul.
And yet when you look back on your life – can you remember those times?
They are very vivid to me. Choosing between a secular job or one in ministry. I spent a semester training for work that would lead to financial freedom and success. But I couldn’t shake the force that kept gnawing at my soul. Could I have fought that prodding? Could I have ignored Him?
When asked to move to a part of the country where family didn’t exist, and the culture was different, I turned down the initial offer. But I couldn’t shake the force that kept gnawing at my soul. A week later my mind was changed. Not because any of the circumstances had changed, but because God was prodding me to move. I had a choice to listen to his call or not.
In the book of Ezra the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1) to send Shesbazzar to rebuild the temple – God’s dwelling place. God also moved many of those who had been exiled to Babylon to return to Jerusalem and help rebuild the temple – Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5).
Please don’t fault those who stayed behind. Read the text. They helped their fellow kinsmen. They gave freewill offerings and many returned later when Ezra and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem. On that first return, very few people chose to return to their homeland to rebuild the temple. They felt the prompting of God and returned to a desolate town, a desolate place, a desolate situation. They didn’t know what to expect, yet they could not deny the prompting within them.
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21).
So, I have to ask myself a question: Am I truly open to being moved by God? If He asked me to move across the country, would I?
And If I haven’t ever been stirred, is there a way to recognize Him when He calls?
Here are three ways that help me recognize His call.
Are their others that you can think of? What helps you be open to His call?
Confession:
12 ‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity
(Joel 2:12-13).
Study of His Word
Your states are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end (Psalm 119:111-112) & (Psalm 119:2, 7, 10, 30, 32, 34, 36, 69, 145).
Meditation
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do every thing written in it ( Joshua 1:8).
Filed Under: James Waugh | spiritual thought
James,
Sometimes I doubt my faith because of those around me. It is frustrating to me to try to explain to others that it will be OK, have faith in the Lord, he will come through for us. They retort that I’m just copping out. Your sermon this past Sunday helped us greatly in that situation. You must listen and not always talk when you pray. You are right, it is not easy being a Christian, it is not the easy road to take. But the benefits are plentiful. I am so happy that I know you and Deborah, God truly has placed you here to help me in my journey. Thanks.
Oscar.
Even worse…I feel like my heart is stirred by God somewhat frequently and I have the tendacy to ignore it! I tend to blame everything on not having enough time, but that is a huge lie. I hope that as I grow in my faith, I will quit being so selfish and pay more attention to what God wants for my life.