Suddenly – the Damascus Road
When Saul was on the road to Damascus, “. . . ‘suddenly’ a light from heaven flashed around him; he fell to the ground, and heard a voice. . . . ” Acts 9:1-18
Saul’s entire life changed with that “suddenly” as he had a personal encounter with the risen Christ. It included forgiveness; physical healing; transformation of his heart and mind; name change; and new direction in his life.
He received healing for blindness; forgiveness from Jesus and the Christians he was persecuting; faced rejection from his fellow friends and Jewish leaders; dealt with any personal guilt from his actions; imprisonment, beatings, stoning, and eventually death. In the process, he became Paul one of the greatest apostles to the gentiles and author of many letters in the New Testament.
Have you ever experienced a “suddenly” that stopped you and effected your destination or journey in life?
Three years ago, I “suddenly” lost all power in my car and barely made it to the left side of the busy highway. Stranded, broken down in an unsafe location, on a hot day, God stepped in and directed every step. I had been in, and stayed in, an attitude of praise and it kept fear from entering. Something, that affected me spiritually and emotionally, happened before I left home. I was on my way to a weekend of ministry and chose to stay in an attitude of praise and gratitude. My testimony of that event is on my website “www.givinggodavoice.com” under “Breakdown” in Beth’s Corner.
This “suddenly” effected my life in so many areas as I heard God say, “You are important enough to Me to shut down an entire freeway!” A CHP officer had stopped all traffic so he could push me across five lanes from one side of the freeway to the other side. Learning to live without a car for several months, it shifted my experiential journey with the Lord. I became totally dependent upon Him to meet my everyday physical needs. It gave me the opportunity to encounter a deeper level of trust and intimacy with Him.
Has there been a “suddenly” in your life?
Was it life changing? Was there a positive or negative outcome? Did it lead you into a deeper level of trust or intimacy with the Lord or did it cause you to become angry with Him or others (including yourself)?
Let me know how I can pray for you or pray the words below:
Father, I experienced a “suddenly” in my life and didn’t know how to handle it. I give my confusion (and possibly anger) to you and ask that you reveal what I need to see. Was it an attack or assignment from the enemy to stop me from fulfilling something you asked me to do? Was it inattentiveness to your voice and failure to hear your warning? Was it outright rebellion on my part due to my own agenda for my life?
You promised that you would work things together for my good. There is now therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, so I repent and receive your forgiveness. I ask you to turn it around for Your good that you will be glorified. In Jesus name, Amen!
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