Have you ever had someone ask you for something? What was your reaction? Sometimes, I hate to admit it, but I get slightly annoyed. About a week ago, I had someone ask to help provide a dinner. My first thought? Really? So I did the Christian thing. I said I’ll have to “pray” about it. I did, and God said, “Help her”! As I was fixing the meal, my attitude was still not very good. That was when God started meddling. He said, “Sharon, think of my life”. I did and then he asked, “When did I ever do anything for someone that they did not ask me to do”. OUCH! I have to admit it, but as I thought about that, I began to realize that I was the one with the problem, not her. Jesus, aside from his work on the cross, did not do any act of healing or other miracle without someone asking. In fact, Jesus tells us to ask. Strike that! He commands us to ask, and he wants us to ask. If he expects us to ask him for things, we should not be offended when others ask us for things either. To be honest, I am horribly unobservant so I might not see the need. I may need someone to point out the need. I also realized by my being offended; I was in reality being prideful. I had the time and I had the ability. I didn't WANT to serve this person. God showed me that I needed to confess that sin; and be obedient to him. Thanks God; for the attitude adjustment!
As I was driving home today, I passed a person walking on the side of the road. Since it was cold, and snowy, I thought I should stop and offer the person a ride. As I drove on by, I was irritated with myself for not stopping. I could have and should have but I didn't. Why? I was scared! Maybe that wouldn't bother you, but I'm willing to bet there are things that make you afraid. It may be snakes or spiders that send the ticker into overdrive. Or maybe it's your job and finances that keep you up at night when you should be resting. Then again perhaps it's relationships that consume your thoughts and energy. As followers of God, we know that we are told not to be afraid. Yet we often are afraid despite everything we know. As I was driving away from a missed opportunity, I began thinking about what it is that makes us afraid. I honestly am not sure what it is that causes us to be afraid when we should be bold, but I
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