Commit To Being Available To The Lord
This article is excerpted from The God Nudge, a book by Mike Robertson.
What is a God Nudge?
God nudges us in many different ways. His Spirit may speak to us through a passage of Scripture. As we read, the Holy Spirit “illumines” the truth to give us encouragement, direction, or correction. A nudge may come from the advice of a leader or a mature Christian friend. God often uses circumstances. He may put up a roadblock to steer our path or open a door for us. God leads some people in visions and dreams.
Here is a definition of a God Nudge:
discernment, insight, and foreknowledge
(n.) a spiritual premonition, feeling, or sense; an illumination
(v.) a spiritual prod or push
Sometimes, God nudges us to become messengers or delivery persons on His behalf. However, to become a delivery agent for the Lord, you've got to be willing to make some commitments.
Commit to act when you receive a God nudge.
Wake up in the morning and renew your pledge: “God, I’m ready to act if You nudge me to talk to someone today, tell me to give someone some money, or if You need me to be a miracle. I’m available.”
Make this statement part of your daily prayers, and remind yourself of it all day. Pray the prayer of Isaiah: “Here am I, Lord, send me. I’m a delivery agent for You.”
Decide in advance how to deal with distractions.
Have you ever gotten sidetracked? I sure have. Today, there are more devices and distractions than ever before. When we want to connect with God, we must get away, find a quiet place, and turn off our electronics. I’m a big fan of praying as we go through the day. I want to depend on God in the middle of a conversation or situation, but sometimes, I need to be alone and quiet.
Ladies, if you're in the kitchen, you’ll see every dirty dish. Guys, you can't pray too easily if you've got the paper’s sports section open next to you. You must find a time and place where you're not distracted.
When God tells you to do something, you've got to resolve in your heart, “I’m going to do this. I'm not going to be distracted. God told me to do this, and nobody can talk me out of it.” We need hearts of courageous, tenacious faith.
Step out in faith, even if you don’t have all the facts.
Some people are waiting for all the facts. They believe information brings them security and won’t take a step until they’ve answered every question. These people become spiritually paralyzed. Despite how much God speaks to them, overcoming their fears is not enough. Even after the tenth nudge, they pray, “Can you give a little bit more, Lord? I need to know exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
I promise you, He's not like that. He doesn't give us the whole load. He gives us enough, but not too much. We have to rely on His goodness and greatness instead of our ability to check off every box on our list of questions.
Let me give you a practical example. I left an envelope of vital papers at a restaurant on Bonnie Brea Street in Los Angeles yesterday and asked you to pick it up. A person ready to step out in faith would say, “Okay, I'll go.”
She doesn’t wait to volunteer until she has all the answers. She trusts that the answers and resources will come as she takes steps forward. However, some people would hesitate. They’d have a million questions, and ten more would appear for each one answered.
They want precise directions: “Where's Bonnie Brea Street? Is it one-way? What’s the best route to get there? Will traffic be bad? I don't know if I have enough gas. What if my car breaks down? What if the envelope is gone? What does it look like?”
Questions aren’t evil, but they can become a subtle way of avoiding obedience.
When you get a God nudge, ask a few questions to clarify your direction. But even if no answers come, take a step of faith and respond to God’s prompting. He’ll give you direction as you take each step forward.
Next time, we will continue our quest to understand God's nudges and their role in our lives today.