Tonight I returned to my current home in Dallas, GA with my brother Chris and his wife Michelle. I had gone home to KY for the weekend; visited family in OH, some had flown in from CA and NewZealand then went to IU to visit a best friend from highschool who is in gradschool there. On this 4 day trip I watch my faithful car turn over 198000 and 199000 miles! I’m sure to see the big 200k soon 🙂 but, for now I’m ready to give her a rest.
After listening to my “learn spanish while driving” CD, other CD’s I’m sick of and flipping radio stations for 4 hours, I was just about to cross the GA state line. It was about this time that I felt a twinge in my eyebrow (ok, weird, i know – but true) and God prompting “hey leah, why don’t you listen to me for awhile?” Hmmm, good idea – why didn’t I think of that? So I turned off the radio! What? I’m in my car and there is no music blaring (so I can sing and not hear myself)?!
So, I’m driving the car in silence, hearing weird noises I never knew my car made and getting impatient. My thoughts went something like; God, I’m going to fall asleep if I keep the music off – He says “I won’t let you”, good come back. then; OK, God – you might as well tell me now what you wanted to tell me b/c if you’re going to tell me anyway, why not now? He basically told me to “chill out”. Sure, I can do that. Then I just started chatting, nothing in particular, but I remember telling Him how much I love hanging out and we should do this more often. Then somewhere in there He came up with the idea that I should go the speed limit the rest of the way home… what?! I litterally said outloud; “oh noooo, I don’t want to!” in a very complainy voice – then for a couple minutes I tried to act like I forgot that idea, but I knew I was not going to say no to God – (I mean really, who does that?!)
As I put my cruise to 65mph and proceed to be passed by even the truckers I wonder why I was suposed to do this, it’s not like the people on the interstate know I’m a Christian and I’m following the speed limit “b/c it’s the law and that’s what good christians are suposed to do” – I’ve had friends that have been convicted about speeding and yes it’s a good thing not to do, but I’ve never felt strongly about it. So as I’m pondering these thoughts God breaks in w/ “it’s just obedience, I asked you to do it and that is enough – the reasons don’t matter”. Really, that’s what it is all about – obedience. It’s like when our parents respond to our “whys” with “because I said so”. Also, somewhere amidts the silence God also told me to leave my radio off whenever I’m in the car this next week and to use that time in prayer and fellowship w/ him. Once again God, good idea (hmm, i’m beginning to see a pattern there 🙂 ) All in all, God is pretty cool 🙂 It’s so amazing to think that He – the God who created all things – wanted me to just hang out with Him while I drove home and He wanted to tell me a few things that I wouldn’t have heard if I’d left the radio on.
I think the theme of my ride w/ God was obedience. He wanted to know if I would do what He asked. I still have some learning to do though – I defintely hesitate and question the command, especially if it’s something I don’t really want to do or give up (do you know how hard it is to go exactly the speed limit?!). Oh!, but how important is it to obey God when He asks something of you!! This next year it will be crucial to be ready and willing to move at the sound of His voice, hesitating could cost us a life (spiritually or physically)!
God!, let us continue to sharpen our listening to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our thoughts, the Word of God on our hearts and to take a stand in the authority we’ve been given by the blood of Jesus Christ by using the free acess he’s given us to the Throne!
Press on warriors of the cross!
