Don't Let Fear Anchor You into Do-Nothingness


Hi guys! So the working conditions are not too shabby. I'm working at my table in the church here in Saipan finishing up a little project I have been working on for my home church, Davenport Nazarene in Iowa having to do with our church app. I am facing the wall in an effort to keep from being distracted by the view behind me. I have claimed this as my desk area until the Buchers return. I think Helen Ann usually parks herself here. It's a good place to work if you don't mind sweeping gecko poo off the table before starting to work.

It's afternoon right now. I didn't start my day here at my desk. I got up early this morning and drove to the ocean for my prayer time.



Beach Road is straight ahead and I will be turning left and then pulling off onto the narrow verge between the street and the ocean where benches are conveniently placed along the walking trail for people like me.
I've been thinking about Jesus going out to the mountain to pray all night before choosing twelve to follow him the next day in Luke 6:12-13. He prayed for a night and then he acted. From all the disciples who had been following him, he chose twelve. I think that night on the mountain was a night of indecision for Jesus. The time had come to choose twelve, but which twelve? I think he deliberated on it all night long in an attitude of prayer, and possibly not getting a lightning bolt revelation in the form of a dictated list. Why else did it take him all night? It wouldn't have taken the Father an entire night to dictate twelve names. No, I think Jesus pondered with the Father over the choices. He ruminated in his mind.

The reason I think so is because Luke doesn't say Jesus went up on the mountain to pray and worship all night. He doesn't say Jesus prayed and interceded. He just says Jesus prayed all night, and when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them. The time to choose had come. For better or worse, he ended his prayer time and acted.

There comes a time when you just have to decide. You pray for a night, three years in my case, and then you decide. You take action, for better or worse. My time to choose has come. As wonderful as prayer is, when "day" comes, I think God expects you to marshal yourself and make a decision. Stop talking and start doing. Even if you don't quite know how it will all work out. From the human perspective, a decision could have both good and bad elements in it at the same time. Jesus' decision was  that way. He chose eleven good men and one bad man. But both were needed, the good men to propel the church forward when the time came, and the bad man to propel Jesus to the cross.

As I watched the ships anchored beyond the lagoon reef out in the deep water, I realized that it would take a lot of effort to get anchored ship to change direction. That's when I caught sight of some speed boats weaving their way around them. It doesn't take much effort to get a moving boat to change direction. It's like that with us too. Prayer is right and good, but when day comes you need to get up and move one direction or another. If you feel God nudging you, go. That's what I heard in my prayer time this morning. Don't be so afraid of making a wrong choice. As long as I am moving forward, God can tweak my course without much effort. I can't let fear of making a wrong choice anchor me into do-nothingness.

So, I registered for another course. Next week I will take the course to become certified in youth mental health first aid. This has been a great, great summer!

Oh yes, I thought you might like a snapshot of a local storefront. I went to New XO to buy a flyswatter.


I have to run. I have a hospital visit to make this afternoon. (I like being a pastor!)

Amy




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