Be Careful What You Ask For!

The other day I was driving in my car before a Wednesday night service and talking to God. I asked Him to do something “new” or “different” that night, to use me for something new. Several hours later I found myself at church. I was approached by the Pastor’s Wife and asked to handle the offering time during church that Sunday in her absence. My immediate reaction was NO WAY. I am not a public speaker and that would not be something that I wanted to do. So, I declined the offer and went about my way. Later, in service during Praise and Worship I looked over at my Pastor’s Wife and the Holy Spirit kindly reminded me of our earlier conversation. “Didn’t you ask Me to do something different tonight; to use you in a different or new way? She asked you to do something and you said No!” Even though I was open to ask God to use me, I was not open to listen to the Holy Spirit to show me the opportunity and be sensitive to that in my response. Many times we ask God to use us, but we only want Him to do it on our terms. We need to learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not miss the opportunities that He presents us with. The task that He assigns to us may not be important in the grand scheme of things, but our response to His request is what matters. Lord, May I be open to your Holy Spirit and learn to listen for your response to my requests. -Sarah E.