Hearing and Following God's ridiculous Requests

Has God ever asked you to do something you thought was a bit odd or strange or just not logical?  Did you have the courage to do it or did you chicken out?  When God asked you did you get angry or excited? I have been going through a long period this last 3 years of God asking me to do some frustrating things.  In the past I would get angry or fearful or say bitterly "another character developing opportunity"  when God asked me to go through difficult situations.  Because of my attitude these situations where extra unpleasant and though I did develop character I also developed doubt and bitterness.  In the last three years I have embraced a new attitude.  One of faith in God, knowing He loves me.  I was eagerly waiting to see what cool things Jesus did in the midst of the Chaos to sustain me and make good come out of bad. 

This three year period started out with a very unfortunate incident.  I was walking across the road and I was struck by a truck.  Do not under an circumstances try to take on a truck on foot - it does not go well!  I was J walking and he failed to stop or look before he turned out in front of me.  I broke my leg at the femur - like right in half so it was dangling at a strange angle when I tried to lift it up.  I also re injured a concussion that I had gotten a year previously from being tossed off a horse head first when it fell in a hole at a gallop.  Now this accident was not God's fault but human error, but for the last three years God has been making good come out of it.

I have learnt so many things!  For instance, how to hear God even in demanding situations.  Just like the sermon last week about how to learn good discernment: God has been teaching me to listen carefully, be alert, surrender and trust God for victory.  Because of the leg and the concussion I have had to be very still for very long periods of time.  It is amazing how much easier it is to hear God when you are still and quiet.  I am a very goal oriented person and I like to get stuff done - I do not like to rest.  However God has taught me to rest and actually enjoy it and benefit from it. 

With my concussion I have progressed to only needing quiet rest about 4 times a day for about an hour a time.  Right after the accident I pretty much rested 24 / 7 .  If I do not rest I get headaches of epic proportions that make any kind of any activity debilitating.   Reading quietly or watching TV or even talking on the phone with my eyes closed do not count as rest.   I must ,make like a mushroom, and spend lots of time in a dark quiet bed doing nothing.  At the start this was very frustrating and boring, but I got better at it and if resting were an Olympic sport I would now so get gold!  I discovered that the quiet worked really well for listening to God and if I surrendered to Him he would give me peace and joy.  Because I did not have my brain cluttered with all my busy plans I found I could be alert to hear God's voice and hear Him better than ever before.  He has been very clear that He wants to me to keep resting as much as I need to and give my list of things I need to get done to Him.  I have learnt to trust Him for victory over my anxious heart and He has calmed me down so much.  It is very hard to get anything done when you need to rest as often and as long as me.   However, I have seen God do supernatural things to my heart and to my schedule and He has come through. 

Now when I have to go rest I feel safe and peaceful instead of frustrated and driven.   You might say my life is a bit ridiculous when it is interrupted with sleep so often through out the day.  God does ask me to rest and that does appear to be a counter intuitive request if you goal is getting stuff done.  But I have discovered that for me obeying God means resting and He gives me such a joy and relief in that.  He has shown me that all that down time has been a wonderful opportunity to pray and to meditate on his word.  These two acts have totally changed my life in so many good ways.  God's word is so awesome and following it is the path to true contentment and satisfaction.  I do some times still feel frustrated and wish I had more time to get things done but when I run to God he shows me to be patient and do what He asks.  This works so much better than trying to do what the world says you must do to be considered successful.

  Just like the Isrealites laid rocks from the middle of the river to remember what God had done for them, I want to keep blogging what God has done for me.  I want to remember so my faith can be strengthened.   We sing a song at church called the rock won't move and it really describes well my journay through the last three years -  here are the words:

The Rock Won't Move

Verse 1

When the ground beneath my feet gives way

And I hear the sound of crashing waves

And all my world is washing out to sea

I'm hidden safe in the God who never moves

Holding fast to the promise of the truth

That You are holding tighter still to me

 

Chorus 1

The rock won't move and His word is strong

The rock won't move and His love can't be undone

The rock won't move and His word is strong

The rock won't move and His love can't be undone

The rock of our salvation

 

Verse 2

My hope is in the promise of Your blood

My support within the raging flood

Even in the tempest I can sing

I'm hidden safe in the God who never moves

Holding fast to the promise of the truth

That You are holding tighter still to me

 

Misc 1

(Interlude)

Woah woah woah the rock of our salvation

 

Misc 2

(Bridge)

On Christ the solid rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

The rock won't move the rock won't move

When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest in His unchanging grace

The rock won't move the rock won't move

CCLI Song # 7005719