A New Direction

Good morning!  I hope you had a great weekend.

Acts 22:6-15 (NASB)
6  "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,  7  and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'   8  "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord ?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'   9  "And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.  10  "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord ?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.'   11  "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.  12  "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,  13  came to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight !' And at that very time I looked up at him.  14  "And he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth.  15  'For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

There are times in our life when we need a radical shift in our lives and God intersects us to bring about the change that is necessary.  Saul was one of the people we find in scripture.  He was a zealous pharisee who would stop at nothing to bring an end to the spread of the Christian faith.   God had a greater plan for Saul, but it would take a powerful experience to reshape him into the man we know as the Apostle Paul. 

I find that many times in life God takes me far outside of my comfort zone, often to a place of utter helplessness in order to bring about a shift in my life.   These become some of the defining moments that, just as Paul is doing here, become the testimony of God's work in my life.   When God brings me into those times there are generally two things that happen.  First my viewpoint adjusts to conform more with His will.  Second, there is generally a new assignment that comes with these experiences.  

Today you may find yourself way out of your comfort zone and perhaps even flat on your back.  Pay close attention as God is seeking to bring about His purposes in you.  With this experience will come new vision, renewed strength and a testimony that you will share for years to come.

Until next Monday, may God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl