Listen, part 2

This post was written in response to the Jehovah Jireh post from my friend Jessica.

There are way too many things that have happened in my life to write how faithful God has been in revealing himself to me. Over the past few years God has continued to shape my heart, my attitude, and my actions. Although I don't think I've had "surpassingly great revelations" like Paul and need a thorn in my flesh to help me from becoming conceited, I have a much better understanding of what was spoken to Paul in 2 Cor. 12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I've felt that weakness like never before the past few years and hope that God will keep humbling me so that his power in my life can become more evident. I need to be weak so that I will always be ready and willing to do whatever God wants me to do. I need to be weak so that I can listen. Listening ALL of the time. Sometimes I rely on my human ears too much. God has been really helping me to open my spiritual ears as well. But not just listening, taking action (if needed) is one thing that I've been working on lately. This verse has been on my heart for a while. "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." (James 4:17)  God has been so gracious in teaching me how to do this. There are several little things that I have done and I think "that's no big deal." Doing it was not a big deal, but obeying was. By obeying I become less selfish.  Sometimes, however, my selfish nature still takes over.  Because while I try to do what is right, I fail so many times. I need a reminder. I love giving to people/organizations in need. I find so much joy in helping others, but sometimes I get so busy at what I'm doing that I pass right by a chance to bless someone. My friend Merideth lives in San Diego and volunteers at the Salvation Army. Every once in a while she will write on her myspace that they need socks, and if you're in the area to drop some by and she'll take them with her. The other day I was grocery shopping and I saw a package of socks. Immediately I thought of Merideth and the Salvation Army...and I walked past the socks and continued getting groceries...that's what I was there for, right? A few days later Merideth wrote about going back down to the Salvation Army and asked if anyone had any socks they could send with her. I was so convicted that I had not listened to the Spirit's prompting. I was so focused on what I was doing that I didn't even take the time to respond to the Spirit's guidance. Obviously I couldn't take the socks to her, but I could send them in the mail. As my heart sank, "please forgive me" was all I could say. Then I needed to get some socks. Like I said before I love giving, but I don't just want to give 90% of the time, I want to give every time I feel God wants me to.  I hate when I look back at a situation and think "I should have..." I think that is why God is really working on listening (to him) with me right now so that I can look back at situations and say "I did..."  

I am in the same boat with you Jessica in that I cannot fully comprehend that the God of all creation would decide to choose such an intimate relationship with us. Each day I cannot help but sing and dance because God is worthy of all of our praise. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." God is the desire of my heart. God has given himself. Because of that I can experience his presence every day. I pray that God will continue to show me and guide my in ways to share his amazing love with others.