July 29, 2019
Seriously? Just Stop
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:3-4)
Friend to Friend
He had no idea that he was moving in a dangerous direction. The cute, little box turtle was just trying to get where he was going. Doing what turtles do. Thinking what turtles think. The fact that he was crossing a busy road that is paved for fast moving cars, not slow crawling reptiles, wouldn’t have even entered his tiny turtle brain.
I’m a fan of turtles. Always have been.
Maybe it’s because they look tough on the outside, but are really softies on the inside.
Maybe it’s because they seem shy and vulnerable when they retreat into their shells and pretend that nobody’s home.
Maybe it’s because for a brief time as a kid I had a pet turtle named Raspberry… because I found him when I was picking raspberries. {I’m a clever pet-namer.} Not sure that there’s one reason in particular, but I do like turtles.
And I had to do something.
If I didn’t help him out, there was a high chance that his field trip to the people pavement would’ve ended disastrously. I cared about his cute, little shelled-self so I quickly, and safely, pulled over to the side of the road and intervened. He wasn’t able to see the danger of his actions, so I picked him up and moved him to a safe place… to the grass near the swampy area.
In the days of the early church a man named Saul was full of murderous threats and was moving in the wrong direction. Like my turtle friend, he had no idea. Saul, a Pharisee, sincerely thought he was doing the right things, acting the right ways, and following the right rules. But he wasn’t. His behaviors and convictions were actually opposed to the very God he believed that he was representing and defending.
So the Lord intervened one day as Saul walked along a road in Damascus.
He on his way to arrest some people who didn’t believe as he believed (Acts 9:2), and Saul couldn’t see the danger of what he was doing. So Jesus paid him an illuminating visit that struck him blind to help him know and see the truth.
To save him.
To reroute his wrong ways and point him in the direction of life.
Saul’s personal encounter with Jesus changed him.
All of him.
Even his name! (Which was eventually changed from Saul to Paul.)
From the time of his rerouting, Saul humbled himself before the Lord and worked hard to go where God wanted him to go. From that day one, he helped reroute other wandering hearts toward the salvation and hope of Jesus Christ.
One of the evidences that someone has a genuine relationship with the Lord is the willingness to search their heart and ask God to show them what needs changed. (Brace yourself. It’s about to get personal here.) Sometimes in life we can move in the wrong direction, away from the will of God, and not even realize it.
You might be blinded by an anger that you feel justified hanging onto.
Perhaps you think that flirting with that guy on social media isn’t hurting anyone.
Maybe you need rerouted from unhealthy eating patterns, addictions, insecurities, or maxed out anxieties.
In any case, Jesus wants to reroute every wrong way and move you to the safest place, the BEST place: the center of God’s will.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Please show me the ways that my heart needs rerouted and give me the courage, desire, and determination to move in the direction that you lead.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read the story of Paul’s conversion: Acts 9:1-19.
Might there be a way that God wants to reroute your heart today? Spend some time in prayer and ask Him to help you see His will clearly. Then move in that direction.
NEED PRAYER? Visit my blog community and share your prayer needs in the comments section. Then pause to pray for the needs of others that have posted.
More from the Girlfriends
These inductive studies will help you know what God says about tender topics like forgiveness, healing, fear, depression, relationships and hope. Each study can be done in the comfort of your home and in a timeframe that fits with your personal schedule. Visit www.GwenSmith.net/BibleStudy to learn more.
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Originally published Monday, 29 July 2019.
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