As I posted before, my 2018 Word of the Year (WOTY) is TRUST. I've made it a daily habit to be in God's Word every day of 2018, and as I am reading, I am asking the Lord to teach me about trust. Almost every day so far, there has been something that I have learned about trust, and trusting in the Lord. The Bible reading plan I use takes me through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice throughout the course of the year. I thought I'd share a little nugget that stuck out this week from my second time through the book of Acts this year.
Here is part of my reading from the book of Acts:
Acts 9:10-22
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
And my journal entry that went with it:
Ananias was afraid to go to Saul. Saul was the chief persecutor of Christian, and Ananias knew what had happened to others. So when God spoke to Ananias to go to Saul, he questioned the Lord. vs. 13: "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has the authority... to arrest all who call on your name."
Yet God had a plan for Saul. His plan involved trust... Ananias' trust in the Lord. Ananias trusted the Lord, no matter what might happen. And so, trusting in what the Lord had spoken, Ananias went to Saul, prayed for him, and saw him released from his blindness. Sual went on to believe, be baptized and proclaim the name of Jesus.
vs. 22: ...Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Saul went on to become the Apostle Paul, a great champion of Jesus Christ. Ananias trusted God, and his trust brought about Paul's transformation. Who knows whose lives we affect when we trust in what God says!
I love this! I love that God chooses to use us even when we question Him. I love that He uses us even in our weakness. I love that He takes broken people and transforms them for His purposes.
What about you? Have you ever seen God use a situation where you had to trust in order to transform someone ELSE's life? I'd love to hear about it!!
Here is part of my reading from the book of Acts:
Acts 9:10-22
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
And my journal entry that went with it:
Ananias was afraid to go to Saul. Saul was the chief persecutor of Christian, and Ananias knew what had happened to others. So when God spoke to Ananias to go to Saul, he questioned the Lord. vs. 13: "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has the authority... to arrest all who call on your name."
Yet God had a plan for Saul. His plan involved trust... Ananias' trust in the Lord. Ananias trusted the Lord, no matter what might happen. And so, trusting in what the Lord had spoken, Ananias went to Saul, prayed for him, and saw him released from his blindness. Sual went on to believe, be baptized and proclaim the name of Jesus.
vs. 22: ...Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Saul went on to become the Apostle Paul, a great champion of Jesus Christ. Ananias trusted God, and his trust brought about Paul's transformation. Who knows whose lives we affect when we trust in what God says!
I love this! I love that God chooses to use us even when we question Him. I love that He uses us even in our weakness. I love that He takes broken people and transforms them for His purposes.
What about you? Have you ever seen God use a situation where you had to trust in order to transform someone ELSE's life? I'd love to hear about it!!
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