Stop, Look, Listen

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in what we should be doing, after all, we should be doers and not hearers only of the word (James 1:22), it is important that we are seeking the will of the Lord in where we work and help. We are all seeking our place and our purpose in this life.  What is God's plan for us?  He does have one, right?  What can I do?  

STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN

STOP

We cannot be so busy doing things that we miss where the Lord wants us to be. If we are too busy or we allow ourselves to become distracted with “busy work” then we run the risk of missing a divine appointment.  Read my post Distractions for additional insight into Martha...

LOOK

Jesus went where the need was and He ministered to the broken hearted, healed the sick, made the blind to see, the lame walk, the mute speak. He cast out demons and set the captives free. He spread His message to all who came to Him.

We need to look around us to determine where the need is. We need to be willing to get down and dirty and ready for whatever God would have us do. In Matthew 5 there is the story of the pool of Bethesda. The angel appeared at a certain time and stirred the waters. The first person into the pool after the angel stirred the water would be “made well of whatever disease he had.” Jesus was in Jerusalem at time as well. He went to the pool and saw the man lying by the pool. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be made well. The man answered that he had no one to carry him into the pool, when he tried to make it down to the pool, someone would step down before him. Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed and walk. He went where the need was and He looked for one to help.

LISTEN

We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and ask:

Who do I help?

What is the need?

What do I do?

We must then be willing to answer the call. 2 Timothy 4:2 says:

Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,

with all longsuffering and teaching.

No matter the time or the place, we are to be ready to answer the call and preach the Word. We cannot help everyone, but we can help those that the Lord directs us to, if we listen and obey.

Avoid Danger

If we STOP, LOOK and LISTEN, we are able to avoid spiritual danger. Jesus says in Matthew 7:6 –

Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine,

lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

We must minister to those that God directs us to or brings into our lives; however, we must also use discernment so that in our “busyness” we do not leave ourselves open for a spiritual attack that could tear us to pieces.

Be Strong

We all quote a popular scripture time and again. Philipians 4:13 –

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We believe that just saying this scripture out loud will produce the strength within us to allow us to do anything. How have we come to that conclusion? Where do we get our strength from? Yes, we get our strength from Christ, but is that strength supernaturally bestowed upon us because we are a part of the Lord’s Army? Does the body builder gain his muscles overnight because he wishes to be strong?

We must spend time in the Word. We must spend time with Jesus in prayer. God said if we seek Him, we will find Him. Deuteronomy 4:29 –

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if

you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Spending time in the Word and time with the Father learning and studying; listening and obeying will bring strength. Exercising faith will build our strength, if we are exercising out of obedience.