“Here ya go.” I handed the package of hot food to the hotel receptionist where we were staying. The delicious fragrance gave the contents of hot buffalo Brussels sprouts away without her having to look.
Her hand covered her mouth and emotion filled her eyes and choked her words. “For me?”
My turn to be surprised. I never guessed this small gesture of bringing the appetizer she’d mentioned would draw such a response.
I walked away thankful I’d heeded the prompting to bless this stranger. But by the time I entered my room the taunts had started.
You blew it. You missed an opportunity to give her the bigger blessing of knowing Jesus loves her.
I joined the chorus of insults. Why didn’t you plan your delivery better? Why didn’t you get to know her?
I’m not alone in this battle. At Bible study a woman shared her regret after a weekend with folks she deeply cares for but who don’t know the Lord. “I’d prayed for our time,” she said, “but I failed. I should have done more to show them Jesus.”
Recognize the Source of Your Taunts
Did you know the word translated serpent in the Bible comes from the Hebrew root word that means to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell? Whenever I read Eve’s conversation with the serpent in Genesis 3, I find myself internally yelling, “Don’t listen to him. He’s a liar. Run!”
Did you know the word translated serpent in the Bible comes from a Hebrew root word that means to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell? #RefreshingFaith, #Resist Click To TweetYet, how many times have I been drawn in by his whispers?
That night in the hotel, instead recognizing these taunts for what they were, like Eve I tried to reason with them.
How could God use this for good? What should I have done? With the racial tension in our country, maybe God prompted my gesture to heal a wound for this woman. If only my relationship with Christ was as obvious as my skin color.
No doubt I could have done better. But it was recognizing the source of the taunts, not reasoning with them, that stopped them. My Savior never accuses or shames me. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). Satan, not Jesus, is the accuser of the brethren.
Accusations take my eyes off Jesus and onto my shortcomings. Being self-absorbed helps absolutely no one. I didn’t need to defend myself to my accuser. And I certainly didn’t need to join him.
Change Your Focus
I thanked God for the prompting to order the Brussels sprouts and prayed for the woman. If He had more in mind, He would show me. The Spirit brought Matthew 5:14-16 to mind.
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (WEB).
Actions do speak louder than words—especially in showing people the Savior. When God lays someone on our hearts, we only need to obey His leading. He will finish what He starts. It’s time to stop letting the devil steal the joy of joining God in His work.
When God lays someone on our hearts, we only need to obey His leading. He will finish what He starts. #Freedom, #joy Click To TweetClick here to add your thoughts.
Blessings,
2 Summer Zoom Groups for Women
Our summer online study begins Tuesday June 14th. We’ll meet from 7-8:30 p.m. EST on Zoom. I’ll email the lessons out each week. In light of how our world has walked away from God, we’ll be looking at various Scriptures concerning what it looks like to return to God. Contact me if you can join us.
Ginny Wilson will be leading a group through Give Yourself a Break on Thursday evenings from 7-8:30, beginning June 16th, 2022. Contact us if you can join us.
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I love that you brought her the appetizer. Don’t beat yourself up with the shoulda-coulda-wouldas. Small gestures can have a HUGE impact.
Visiting from #TellHisStory
Thanks for dropping by, Barb. No, the Lord doesn’t want us to beat ourselves up.
I applaud you for writing about these taunts because it happens to all of us. You’re reminder to recognize the source and know that there is no condemnation vital to getting past the hisses.
It certainly is for me, Jan. Otherwise I get pulled into a quagmire!
I’ve had these kinds of thoughts often. There are always a dozen things we could have done. All we can do us pray for God’s guidance and filling as we go and then trust that what He gave us for that person was what they needed.
Barbara, the fact it happens after we speak up in Bible study or try to show love should be a big clue to their source. Thanks for your thoughts.
Debbie, I’ve definitely grappled with those taunts from the enemy. I appreciate the way you shared how you reasoned through them. I kept thinking about how Jesus speaks to others of the gospel, even without words. I’m certain your kind gesture meant a lot more to that woman than you know. I’m so thankful we are only called to do the things God gives us to do, not our role AND His role. 🙂
Yes! Oh to keep that straight. Thank you, Jeanne!
The battle in our minds from such hisses and taunts can be so difficult to recognize. What an excellent post! Thank you!
Thank you, Susan!
I think regret is one of the devil’s favorite tools to use against us. No matter how good what we do can be, he always comes up with something we could have done better. I am glad Paul put this verse in his writings because it is encouraging knowing he didn’t look back in regrets but only looked forward. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Philippians 3:14 NKJV
Barbara, that is a wonderful verse to tuck into our arsenal. Thanks so much.
Sometimes we think we must perform great fetes to be a witness for Christ when random acts of kindness and senseless acts of love are sufficient. We live in a cruel world. Kindness makes all the difference and is a great witness for Christ. You planted a seed of kindness and now God will do the rest.
Yes. Maybe in heaven I’ll get to hear the rest of the story!
Well said, Debbie, This tactic hits us all to some degree from time to time. In the example you cite, I am reminded of how we see Jesus moving in the great Chosen series. He wasn’t so much preaching as He interacted with others as He was noticing them, loving, and just being with them. Those we meet are often impacted more by the gospel message evident in us by our deeds than those we try to tell them by words.
Pam, I love that picture of Jesus. I have often been struck with how little Jesus said to some people.
Amen Ms. Debbie. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that seeds come in all varieties ma’am. Some of the best “Seeds of Faith” are sown through our actions in response to God’s prompting rather than in our words. God knows what others need far better than we do. I couldn’t not agree more with shouting (often to myself), “Ignore him, run away, stand and fight, Satan is a liar!” Amen my friend.
Thank you, J.D. I believe seeds of faith are sown through actions too. Satan is such a liar to say otherwise.
Debbie, I love that you brought her an appetizer. In a world we can so often feel invisible, unseen and unheard, you made her realize she was both seen and heard. You deposited such worth into her life. Now God can water the seed you planted!
Thank you, Joanne. I hadn’t looked at it that way. As with Hagar, Jesus was saying, “I see you.”
The Holy Spirit will continue your work. Thank you for stepping up to love on this woman. God bless!
God bless you, Nancy!
I have heard those taunts way too many times and let them discourage me before I learned who they originated with. Thank you for this encouraging story Debbie. Actions do speak louder than words!!
Ann, I think he uses the same tricks on us. Thanks for your ongoing encouragement!
Great message. We can only do the part God called us to do. Some of us plant, some water and some harvest. God has the whole plan.
We did a mission trip to Argentina. We never spoke to our drivers because of the early morning and language barrier but yet at the end of our trip, they asked about our faith.
Yvonne, what an encouraging testimony of God’s faithfulness! Thank you.
Amen Debbie.
🙂
Debbie, Satan is intent on undermining anything we do for God. If he can’t stop you from obeying, he’ll work at dismantling your identity and the truth of God’s goodness. But he’ll never succeed for long. Thankfully, God is wise to his schemes and protects his children. Thanks for sharing your story to remind us of the truth.
Annie, isn’t that the truth. Thanks so much for sharing.
My friend always says we need to wear our Jesus filters. A symbolic ear covering that blocks out the enemies voice.
That’s a good visual. Thanks, Jennifer!
Debbie, those taunts can be debilitating. Thank you for assurances like this: “But it was recognizing the source of the taunts, not reasoning with them, that stopped them. My Savior never accuses or shames me.”
Jeanne, they sure can be. Thanks for reading!