Just Do It!

PASSAGE OF THE DAY:
Acts 22 (click the link)


KEY VERSE:
“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied… ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’” (Acts 22:8-10, NIV)


THE BIG PICTURE:
Paul is on trial and what does he do?  He recounts his testimony of how God changed his life.  One of the biggest enemies of Christ followers, Paul persecuted them—even held the robes of the men that stoned Stephen!  So like my God to choose this man to change and use him to make one of the largest impacts on the world ever!  Paul was not able to see what would come next (literally because he was blind after his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus) and because God revealed His assignments one step at a time.


REFLECTIONS:
This story is better than any blockbuster movie—who could have come up with a plot like this?!  There are three things that linger on my thoughts about this passage.

1.    Paul’s questions and the answers he got from the Lord:

—“Who are you Lord?” and the response “I am Jesus.”

—“What shall I do Lord” and the response “Get up and go.”

If you are like me, you can get so wrapped up in the busy of life.  Even my quiet time gets busy with the drive to read and accomplish something!  What if we slowed down and we just asked those  two simple questions?

2.    God revealed the next steps to Paul—one step at a time.  WOW!  Anyone else find it hard not to see the plan ahead?  Like the Nike slogan: JUST DO IT!! What if we took just that next ONE step as if we had the confidence of having the power of the King of the universe backing us—because we DO!

Recently I was inspired by a young lady, Ames Davis, who volunteers with me at Discovery Training.  She is a single Mom, a student and is experiencing life stress and heartbreaks that would bring me to my knees.  In the midst of all that, she listens and steps out in faith, one step at a time, not knowing where her path is headed.  Last week she was a customer at the food bank—this week she is leading a drive to collect 5000 cans of food to give to who God tells her to give it to.  She doesn’t know yet! She is leading a youth group to live, move with and love homeless kids in Ethiopia. She doesn’t know how she will get the money, hasn’t worked with youth and has never been to Africa.  I grew up in Africa!!  But I look and see…what about safety? What about water contamination? Etc.  She just sees the next step that Jesus has asked her to take—and she takes it, and asks what Paul did “What next Lord?”

3.    The power of story / testimony.  Each of us has our own unique story—your story of what Jesus Christ has done for you and how He has changed your life is solid, strong, life changing and nobody can argue or debate it.  Powerful!!!

POINT OF ACTION & PRAYER:

Ask the simple questions Paul asked… then listen:

—Who are you Lord?

—What shall I do? 

And be willing to step out in faith even if we can’t see the whole map.

WHO AM I?

Hi!  I’m Cinda Brooks. Part of my unique story of what God has done for me.  He gave me the AWESOME gift of being born with my best friend.  My identical twin, Linda, was born 10 minutes before me but we have different birthdays.  When we were young—we celebrated with a slumber party with two birthday parties.  We still try to celebrate that way but we usually can’t stay up till midnight.  We looked so much alike as girls that we were both called “Twinda” so they wouldn’t have to figure out which one is which.  Do you know which one is me?  Hint: I’m the most beautiful one J