Last week I witnessed yet another powerful demonstration of the truth of the adage, which has unfortunately become a catch-all phrase, 'your attitude determines your altitude.' Hearing it here and there, we almost scratch our heads trying to find chapter and verse (biblical, of course), but no, not at all. However, the idea itself is easily found in a host of verses exhorting us to wisdom, humility, exemplary character, virtue, in short. Finally, the fact remains that the previous Sunday we had a powerful service, we had a reminder from the Lord about the changes to be made in our way of doing things as a church and in our attitude towards His work and the ministry of the gospel. We ended in repentance, committing ourselves to do better.
However, as soon as I entered the church doors, I realized that some people still had to let the words sink in. And on Monday morning, I had clear confirmation that old habits die hard. of negligence here and there. To one person who had crossed the line, I responded with a curt, five-point email. I found it hard to believe that the old self returned so quickly at a gallop and the good resolutions of the day before could fade so quickly. The person called, we talked, she repented and we ended up meeting the same day to work, with, I admit, a certain reluctance on my part.
Things went pretty well and towards the end of the day, without expecting it, all of a sudden the Holy Spirit burst in and we were propelled into a spontaneous prayer, you know those streams of prayer in tongues that just flow out (you don't know what praying in tongues is, the explanation will be for another time), led by the Holy Spirit, where you know that God has decided to do something and he hasn't asked your opinion. We prayed in tongues for a while, a continuous, sustained flow, most natural, powerful, and glorious. The person was immediately in the spirit, surprise, surprise, but I wasn't at the end of my surprises.
God had the idea to give me a prophetic word for her. I heard it inside while I was praying in tongues and I did exactly what you would have done if you were in my place, I tried to convince God otherwise, 'is it really necessary Lord' plus in the wake of her nonsense of the morning, let it stew a little. What about my credibility then? First I take it back, and now I am going to prophesy over her! But the word kept coming back. Finally I did what you would have done in my place, I gave the prophetic word; it was powerful, encouraging, and even I was blessed by it.
It's that I want to be on God's good side, I wouldn't like Him to kill me when I find myself alone with Him. (Knowingly not, but that's the effect it would have on me to upset Him). And if for that I have to encourage someone when I would have wanted to do the opposite, so be it. The reaction provoked by the word added a layer of humility to me and rejoiced my heart. God was right after all, He is always right anyway. He sees the hearts of individuals. He doesn't do these things because He approves of bad behavior, no, but because He takes pleasure in repentance and humility.
Another powerful demonstration of God's infinite goodness and I was very moved by it, so moved that I said, again, to God, 'Lord I want to be like You when I grow up'. Don't frown, God is not without humor. If someone else had given this prophetic word, I could have been cynical and even found it a little suspicious, but in this case, I simply rejoiced. The day had not started so well but the person came home glorifying God with all her heart because when confronted with her fault, she had the right attitude: repentance and humility. God saw it, it pleased Him, and He made it known. Shalom!
