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Monday, October 20, 2008

Do Not Disturb

Moses got a burning bush.(Exodus 3:2)

God speaks to Jacob from the top of the ladder. (Genesis 28:13)

In the New Testament God spoke to Peter while he was on the roof waiting for lunch.
(Acts 10:15)

Mary heard God in the voice of an angel. (Luke 1:28)



I have never "heard" the voice of God, but
God often speaks to me through images...

As I was recently preparing another article, I was looking for the perfect image to go along with the words, I came upon the image to the left. It struck me, and as I began to think about it, it was as if God himself had delivered me a very personal message.

How often do I hang out a "Do Not Disturb" sign?

It was put on my heart that I often, without realizing, hang that sign on the door of my life.
I hang out the sign as a message to God to let me "handle it all."

I want control.

I can take care of it.

I would never TELL God that I can handle it myself, but how often to I subtly hang that sign on my heart?

When I don't begin my day with prayer I'm putting out the "Do Not Disturb" sign.

When I move through my day not committing to "Thy will" but "my will," I'm putting out the "Do Not Disturb" sign.

When I neglect to see the nudges that God gives me, by interrupting my daily activities with the needs of others, I am again putting out the "Do Not Disturb" sign.

There should never be a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on my life when God comes seeking my heart. The door to my spirit should be flung wide open, ready to accept any and all that God wants in my life. It's in learning that God will often use the delays, the interruptions and inconveniences to open the way to amazing opportunities. How sad that in my own need to control my life I hang out the sign and miss so much.

I want an "OPEN 24 HOURS" sign instead!
"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog, it's here a little while and then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and such boasting is evil."
James 4:14-16
I need to humble myself before God and submit to HIS will. I pray that I learn to allow HIM to enter into my spirit, fill me with His Spirit, allow Him to disturb and interrupt my day as He see's necessary. Submission means leaving the door open at all times. Committing to His Will means that I take down the "Do Not Disturb" sign and allow God to enter freely.

Questions to ponder:

Do you ever hand a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your heart?

How can you humble yourself and give up the control of this life to and commit to God's will in all areas of your life?

Prayer~


Denis Duncan penned a perfect prayer for my heart today.....

"Give me, O Lord unlimited patience, unlimited understanding, unlimited love. Then I will be able to forgive as I have been forgiven; To bless as I have been blessed."

Father, I know that in my humanness I sometimes hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my heart. Forgive me, I never want to shut you out. Help me to live by the words of your Son, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Help me rid my life of selfish pride and replace it with humility and submission. Father, help me to submit as your Son, Jesus submitted each and every day that he lived on earth. Help me replace the "Do Not Disturb" sign with an "Open 24 hours" sign on my life. Thank you for the grace and mercy that you continuously show me, by revealing yourself in so many ways and in so many images.
It is in this grace and mercy that I grow closer to you.
Amen








Join Lori daily at her personal blogspot, where she can be found seeking God's will, resisting the temptation to hang out the "Do Not Disturb" sign.





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12 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Bless you sweetie.

October 20, 2008 at 12:38 AM  
Blogger Susan said...

Oh Lori,

This was great and so timely!! It's so easy to do just want you shared, even without knowing it.

Our actions speak louder then words many times.

Thanks for reminding us to keep our hearts open always. I know God is waiting and longing to speak to us in many ways daily.

Blessings to you my sweet friend♥

October 20, 2008 at 6:49 AM  
Blogger Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

This was one of my favorite Cafe Devotions. So true in my life. I need to flip the sign over and flash the 24 hour sign.
Thank you for sharing your heart today.
Blessings to you.
Kim

October 20, 2008 at 6:51 AM  
Blogger LauraLee Shaw said...

This is so true, Lori. Sometimes my Do Not Disturb sign is small and hardly seen, and sometimes it's flashin orange neon. Thank you for this tangible way to consider my heart's availabilty this morning. To the Lord and to others.

October 20, 2008 at 8:01 AM  
Blogger Aunt Angie said...

Lori...have I told you lately how you BLESS me! This is what I have done in times past. "Do Not Disturb". Let me have my pity-party and wallow...but God has other plans...He wants us out of the pits of dispair and thriving in His Holy Spirit!

I loved this post! You rang the bells with this one!

I love you girl!!!

October 20, 2008 at 8:55 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

good reminder, Lori!
Thanks for sharing this!

October 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

good reminder, Lori!
Thanks for sharing this!

October 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM  
Blogger Lisa~ said...

Good morning sunshine! Thanks for sharing this Lori... This is something I will sadly admit I have been doing... It’s an old habit and needs to be shaken off... like another poster said... I need to flip my sign over to 24 hours and open. *Ü*

If you think of me... say a little prayer...

Lisa~

October 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM  
Blogger Cheryl Barker said...

Lori, what a good message -- and one that I need to be reminded of frequently because I too often get irritated with interruptions.

One thing I do each morning to try to have the right mindset is simply to pray "Lord, this day is yours and so am I. My times are in your hands." This really helps me give my dad to God. I just have a tendence to try to take it back later! :)

(By the way, the phrase "this day is yours and so am I" came from something of Jack Hayford's that I read, and the other phrase "my times are in your hands" comes from Psalm 31:15.)

October 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM  
Blogger Laurie Ann said...

Conviction city! I'm painting over my Do Not Disturb sign with Please Enter...Love Lives Here!

October 20, 2008 at 11:06 AM  
Blogger Sunny Shell said...

Precious sister Lori,

I love your OPEN heart for the Lord and all the different ways He speaks to each of us. The fact that you heard Him, let's me know that you'd already replaced your "Do Not Disturb" sign with the "Open 24 Hours" sign!

To answer your questions, do I do that? Of course I do! How can I humble myself? Well, staying in His Word and remember who I am and who He Is, is ALWAYS very humbling. I find it impossible to stand in the presence of God and not be humbled. Do I always stand there? Well, that's another story! :-)

I love you sister!
Sunny

October 20, 2008 at 6:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great thoughts!

October 20, 2008 at 8:04 PM  

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