Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 6, 2016
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah 1:1-2
God may be interrupting your plans. He does this from time to time according to His will. You were going in one direction, and He stopped you in your tracks and led you in an about-face. It can be disconcerting and more than a little scary. But do not be surprised if this happens to you. Your current path may be the opposite of what He intended. Maybe you got in a hurry and ran ahead without Him or maybe you have been reluctant to move forward and missed Him. Either way, the Holy Spirit has now arrested your attention and is leading you into uncharted waters. Like Phillip, you are an agent of God (Acts 8:29). You may be uncomfortable with the assignment because of the novelty in its nuances. God is moving you out of your comfort zone and into His arena of obedience. If you disobey and stay put, you jeopardize proclaiming Jesus to the fullest.
The consequences of disobedience are not isolated to you alone. They ripple throughout your relationships. Don’t wait for people to be hurt before you say yes to heaven’s directive. God interrupts for a reason and for a season. The reason may be to protect you from a convergence of bad decision-making. You don’t know what’s around the corner in your life, but He does. He is watching out for you, so this severe turn in His will may be to protect you from a pattern of bad behavior. Do not allow pride to keep you from changing your mind. Promptings from the Holy Spirit make pride uncomfortable because it means giving up control and submitting in humility. If you continue to drive forward in pride, you are destined for unnecessary pain (Ecclesiastes 2:23). Take this interruption as a sign from God to slow down, reevaluate, and recalibrate.
Interruptions from the Lord are not to be ignored. He has something better if you are willing to be bold in your obedience. He will prepare you and provide for you as you move in this new direction. Some people will resist, but others will be relieved that you are leading them in a different direction. They felt a hesitation in their heart to move forward but didn’t want their disagreement to be perceived as disloyalty. So your honesty about the reality of the situation has given them permission to be open about their reservations.
This can happen at home or at work. You may have agreed as a team to spend money on a project or a person, but now the funds are not available and wisdom does not spend what it does not have. God, many times, interrupts your plans through a decrease in cash. His interruptions are intended to get you into environments where you can be blessed. So, see His interruptions as a step up, not a step down. Thank Him that He cared enough to stop you in your tracks and redirect you down a better path. Invite divine diversions. You are wise when you follow the Lord’s interruptions.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me discern Your will in the interruptions that come my way.
Application: Who seems a nuisance in my life, but is God’s reminder to serve the needy?
Related Readings: Job 24:22; Nehemiah 6:12; Matthew 12:39-41; 1 John 3:17
Post/Tweet this today: The consequences of disobedience never travel alone. #WisdomHunters #Godinterruptions
Worship Video: 8 minutes – Elevation Worship: Here as in Heaven
Today’s reading is taken from Boyd’s most popular book: Seeking Daily the Heart of God, a 365 day devotional.
Check out Boyd’s newest devotional book Two Minutes in the Bible for Men. Order now!
If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision. Learn how to help.
Our free Apple app Our free Android app
© 2016 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
