Interruptions

I recently read an article that challenged me as I head into another year.  The writer noted a couple of things to be aware of as we live each day.  He encourages us to be willing to enter into the lives of people.  He writes as a good point to remember, “That in your daily schedule you will allow and come to expect, even long for, interruptions from two things: God and people” - Gary Liederbach.

 I don’t know about you, but I can get pretty regimented in my daily schedule.  And though some interruptions may not have to happen, when God is at work in our lives, we need to stop and listen to Him.  It may be that He is speaking to us through His Word or someone else.  He may be wanting to teach us something as we pray and read.  This type of interruption is worth paying attention to. 

 After all, the Holy Spirit is working in the life of every Christian, desiring to help us be all we can be for God.  We have to do our part and allow God to do His (Philippians 2:12-13) and sometimes that means God flips our schedule.  Are we open to Him doing that? 

 There have been times when I felt “bothered” because my day was turned inside out by the Lord in some way, only to look back on it and realize that it was my attitude that was wrong, that God was giving me an opportunity to minister to someone or to learn something in particular that He wanted to teach me.

 And what of people?  Isn’t that what it is all about in the big picture?  Think of the life of Christ.  He was constantly being sought by others.  At times He needed to get away and be recharged, but He was in the people business. 

 Think about all that He did.  He healed people (Matt. 8:1-16).  He had a meal with people that no one else wanted anything to do with (Matt. 9:9-13).  He even ate with religious leaders, some who had nothing good to say about Him (Lk. 7:36-50).  He had time for children (Matt. 19:13-15).  He talked to the woman at the well in John 4, offering her eternal hope that is only found in Him.  His life was people-centered.  And some of those were interruptions that He welcomed because they were people.

 I understand we need time to be with our families and we do need time to relax and recharge, but may we be sensitive to the fact that God may bring people into our lives who just may need to talk, or have a need that we may be able to help with.

 Do we long for interruptions from God and people as the author stated above?  May we be open to not being so regimented that we become frustrated when God shakes things up in our lives.  Take care and God bless.