A lesson learnt to just obey God’s prompting instead of deferring it

Not long ago, I learnt that my colleague’s dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I give this colleague a car lift back when we knocked off from work pretty frequently. In fact during the same year, his grandma passed away. Hence it was particularly sad and tiring for him to take care 2 sick family members one after the other as he was the only son and they do not have many relatives in Singapore. I offered my prayers to his father but he told me his father was not keen as his father was a staunch believer in another religion. I did not pushed further but told him the door is always open for prayer any time he felt it was ok for me to visit and pray. His father’s condition deteriorated over time. Each time my friend mentioned about his father condition, I would offer to visit and pray for him. However, this was always turned down. In order not to appear too pushy, I did not offer my prayer proactively since then.

A few weeks later, I was chatting with my colleague over the phone and then I casually asked how his father was doing. He said no good and that his father will be admitted into hospital in the week after this. To hear this, I was happy and yet sad. Sad that his condition worsens but happy because I thought I could visit his father more conveniently and pray for him at the hospital. However at that moment there was an impression in my heart to ask if I could visit him at his place to pray for him. I did not obey. I thought I would get the same negative response from my friend and since I could visit the hospital next week, I will just check him out at the hospital. The conversation with my colleague on the phone was on Friday. The next Monday, my colleague’s father died.

Immediately I thought if I should have offered my prayers back then. It was too late now. I knew my part was to just ask when prompted to instead of being overly concerned with what the response might be. Like what .. says.

Luke 5:5, “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.””

I might have missed a divine appointment with my colleague’s father. I apologized to God and asked for His forgiveness then and there.

A few days later, I learnt about a probable relapse of my dad’s cancer at my dad’s place. I felt impressed in my heart to tell him I want to pray for him. I struggled to tell him as my dad was a non believer and we had unpleasant experiences over issues of religion in the past. However I recalled about my disobedience to my colleague’s father case. In addition, God brought me into remembrance of a sermon from John Bevere shared that I heard recently. God asked me, “Who is the source of my life? Men or God?” I said, “God.” He said again, “Do you remember you just learnt that a person will not offend his source of life just like a salesman wouldn’t do so to his customer. He will choose to please his source. ” He paused and asked again, “So if you are willing to visit your friends’ relatives and pray for them all these while, why are you then afraid to pray for your own dad?” I knew if I determined in my heart to make God the Lord of my life, I need to obey his prompting. God has teaching and correcting me.

Eventually I did so and I was glad to do so. There was a sense of release. I do my part and will leave the rest to God.

Anonymous