Ten-Second Obedience
I should know better.
Recently, I celebrated my spiritual birthday. During my 59 years as a Christian, I’ve studied the Bible and prayed every day. I’ve worshipped in a community of believers, and I’ve studied all about evangelism. So I should know better.
But I still struggle to share my faith with strangers. Even though I know how to tell someone about the Gospel, I don’t always want to do it. I’m in a hurry to get to my next appointment, write my next book or coach my next client.
My latest failure came in a health foods store. The clerk who checked me out was a nice woman with a beautiful smile. We chatted about the crazy Kansas weather – humidity one week, sleet the next. We talked about the importance of eating healthy and discussed how to best utilize some of the products I bought.
But when it came to this woman’s spiritual health, I bailed. Inside my spirit, in that inner sanctuary where the Holy Spirit lives, I heard the divine whisper, “Ask about her faith journey.”
Just as quickly, I snapped my purse shut, hurried out of the store and drove away.
About a block later, I realized my disobedience as I heard Jesus say, “You’re ashamed of me.”
“No, I’m not. I love you, Lord.”
Silence. I knew I had disappointed the lover of my soul.
Later, I thought of phrases I might have used to broach the faith subject with this woman. “You have a beautiful smile. What makes you so happy?”
Or how about this? “I’ve been coming in here for quite a while and you’re always so nice and helpful. You must be a Christian. Right?”
I always know exactly what to say – hours or even days later. I never have trouble communicating on other subjects with people, even with strangers – so it’s not that my brain freezes over and I don’t know how to begin.
It’s just plain and simple fear and maybe a touch of rebellion.
I seem to be a modern-day Simon Peter who promised total allegiance to Jesus yet the Lord reminded him, “You will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:34 NIV).
Sometimes, just like Peter, I deny the only One who has ever loved me completely and unconditionally. My stubborn will wrestles more strongly with God than any desire to serve him or to spread his good news. I pray for divine appointments, then fail when the assignment proves inconvenient.
I’m ashamed. Even writing this post, I’m ashamed of myself for letting my Savior down and not following through with what he asked me to do.
I could drive back to that health foods store, but what good would that do? Would the woman think I’m crazy if I said, “Hi there, I was in your store last week and I made a terrible mistake. I was supposed to ask you about your faith and I didn’t do it. So how about it – you want to come to church with me?”
So far, the Spirit hasn’t given me a second chance, because he knows the right timing. I only hope that the next Christian who comes into that store does a better job than I and that woman has the opportunity to either accept Christ or tell about her faith journey to someone who will listen and obey.
As I confess my failure and my disobedience, I want to learn from my mistake so that the next time the Spirit prompts me to say something, I won’t wrestle with Him.
I’ll open my mouth and let Him pour His love message into that person.
I should know better, because I’ve been reading a book titled “The 10 Second Rule” by Clare de Graaf. The author had the same problem as I. He loved Jesus, but he didn’t always do what he was supposed to do. He couldn’t seem to live all day every day without denying his faith in some way.
But he decided he could live a vital faith life 10 seconds at a time. So he determined that for 10 seconds, he would do everything possible to obey what he felt Jesus wanted him to do. Every 10 seconds.
In obedience, he invited homeless people to a restaurant where he fed them a meal. Another day, he pumped gas for a motorist and paid for it. Each event was the result of a 10-second decision to follow Christ. Now de Graaf is living a more obedient life, because he’s practiced obedience 10 seconds at a time.
I’ve decided that’s a good idea. Now I plan to ask God daily to make me sensitive to his Spirit for the next ten seconds – to help me be an obedient servant, to be aware of the needs of others. Maybe as I practice 10-second obedience, it will stretch into 20 and then 30 seconds. Maybe each day will contain divine appointments where I will be salt and light in this world, where I am never ashamed of my Lord and never deny him. As de Graaf explains, never underestimate the power of practiced obedience.
The next time I enter that health foods store, I’ll look for that woman and if the Spirit prompts me that it’s a good time – hopefully, within 10 seconds – I’ll obey.
2 John 1:6 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
I also enjoyed that book and it has changed my thinking as I try to stay more in tune to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Still some failures along the way but I’m working on it!
Your post is so true and honest. I also have trouble sharing my faith, even when I feel the holy spirit prompting me. I think it is a struggle a lot of Christians go through. I will have to read the book, it sounds good. Thank you for your insightful post.
Thank you, Rachel, for being vulnerable and telling the truth. We struggle together in this journey. Let’s pray for each other!
@CindyBaum Good for you, Cindy. I’m so glad you’re listening to the Spirit and moving forward in obedience.
RJ, I’m honored that you found “my book” helpful. Last week I felt compelled to re-read certain chapters of my own book! I’ve come to the conclusion that self-preservation, or my self-love, must be stronger than my love for Jesus or I’d be obedient far more often. As I say in the book, I wish I could blame the devil or others. But I know I’m the problem.
I was also excited to see you’re a life coach also. Starting Monday I’m doing a four week series on Spiritual Mentoring. (That’s the term I prefer to use.) I’d be interested in your comments. Press on!
@Clare De Graaf I agree with you, Clare, and have been appalled that as I have grown older – instead of becoming a servant who easily obeys, I sometimes seem to be growing more in love with myself. Must be another one of those “take up the cross daily” topics.
@RJ Thesman @Clare De Graaf Here’s what i think goes on in me all too often. I’m in full time Christian work. I’m doing good things for God most days. I’m a generally good guy. Subconsciously I must think I’ve built up some “points,” a “get out of obedience pass” that I can redeem when it’s convenient for me. In the book I call it “grace abuse” There ought to be a Twelve Step program for grace abusers. Wait, there is! It’s the church.
@Clare De Graaf @RJ @Clare On the other hand, I grew up in a church that focused on legalism and spiritual abuse. So when God started healing me of all that “works” mentality, then it was harder to obey because I kept fighting with myself. Am I obeying just to please God and gain some points, still hoping that my works will cause him to love me or am I obeying purely out of love for him? The answer for me has not been the church but rather a more intimate life in the Spirit.
@RJ Thesman @RJ @Clare R J, As you know the problem with commenting on a blog is the “sound bite” answers one has to give for the sake of brevity.
My observation is that there is a metamophisis in the Christian life. When most people come to faith, it’s almost always the result of a Holy Spirit led epiphany that God, because of Jesus, loves us unconditionally- pure grace!
However, once we’ve been Christians for a time and get a deeper understanding of one of the amazing benefits of grace, “once saved, always saved,” I think we get spiritually lazy and careless with grace. It is primarily through the Holy Spirit that we are warned of this problem, but also through the church.
By the church, I mean fellow, serious followers of Jesus, not religious busybodies, who will lovingly call us out on obvious sin in our lives. I have five men who’ve met with me weekly for five years who call me out and encourage me to remember that I can do better. These men love me and are “the church” to me in ways that my Sunday church is not and cannot because they don’t know me well enough and therefore I don’t trust enough. It’s the institutional church that tends to be far more legalistic.
@Clare De Graaf @RJ @Clare It is indeed wonderful when we experience the “church” as it should be, an encouraging body of believers who hold us accountable and share grace. I am so glad for your group of 5 men who do that for you. I have a group of 5 women who are spiritual mothers as well as mentors. We have done life together through the years and they, along with the Holy Spirit, have taught me more than the institutional church can ever imagine.
Last night in a dream – I’m divorced and have been hurt over it – but last night I had a dream my ex husband was sleeping next to me It was as if he never left – then a voice said ” the part of him you loved has never left” I woke up and both our children were sleeping next to me
Amen
Amen
this morning
Amen.
AMEN
So true
Amen
Always
Prayer request for TODAY For all Christians !All denominations!All churches,In all country’s and all people in Jesus our Lord. Let us ask of the Lord in one accord for his holy spirit’s guidance ,strength, understanding of his will for us.Not only personally but for one another as Satan is attacking. For the Lord to put him behind us and let us go out boldly and be a part of his great commission.Pray for pastors,priests,And all in ministry.Walk around were you live on a prayer walk and ask the Lord for guidance to pray for all community’s every were. Thank you Jesus amen.
When country,race,sex,family or any thing in our life’s become more important than GOD we have a problem with our everlasting life for eternity. Call on Jesus and follow his holy spirit’s guidance .2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.(((( Please copy and send to others if the Lord moves you to.))))
Deedee gods plan never bring sorrows. You will get doublefold. You have blessed childrens. Be prayed for others. We will pray for u God will hear our cry.
Amen!!!
BELLO DIOS..
alot
AMEN.
AMEN
Amen
I love the Holy Spirit (often He speaks to me in a heavenly language,I understand it clearly but Is hard to relate back in words to others & more) Yet I understand what He conveys…this morning he was saying to trust Him everything is in His control,He foresees all things,He assured me,He’s taken care of me all this time,just rest in his care
Amen
amen
Amen
Everyday. Many times.
This morning amen
YES!!!! AMEN!
amen
This morning while watching SBN.
Today
Amen!
Every day ! 🙂
Amen!!
amen
“AMEN”
He reminded me to wake up this morning.
THANK YOU FATHER!!!!
Amen!
Amen. and the Holy Spirit often lead us when we think we did it on our own.. Thank you Jesus.
Always
Every day of my life
Amen
Junior High
I was sixteen
Specific moment
As a small child. I just always wanted to be close to Him. He has always been everything to me.
Amen:-)
I DONT REMENBER
It was 5 years ago when I was in a pit so deep and so dark of destructive behavior. I knew if I did not give God my whole heart, no doubt I was going to be dead in less then 1 year. God said so clearly to me…leave everything and follow me. I did and I have never looked back. He has redeemed my life from the pit and gave me His beauty for my ashes, renewed my youth like the eagles and has restored all the years the locust has stolen. I am forever grateful and forever HIS!!!
Aw is that a hummingbird!! Mom liked them all so!
Gradually!! But 2009 wen my brother and mother pass,that was a wake up call.
I fell away for awhile and once I listened, my world changed I was force fed catholicism as a child, so I am not sure of an exact date, but a late bloomer that’s finally got it….. amen
It was both fore. He was w/me from the age of 11. Then in my early 20s I gave my all to Him. But He was there all the time! Amen
It was 1963, I was 12. Mom and sister came home from church crying and all excited saying, We just got saved! They had such a glow on their faces, I’ll never forget it. I went to bed that night and cried also and told Jesus”I want what they have” . I didn’t really know what to pray that night. But started to church then and found it all out!!! Thank you Jesus for your Love!!
When I was 5. My mother was responsible for me hearing the Gospel. All through my grade school years I went to Sunday School and on in to high school. When I enlisted in the U.S Navy somebody handed my a Gideon pocket Bible and I carry and read it almost everyday. I now read and study bathe Spirit Filled Life Bible. I love God’s word.He t
May 1974 answered the Spirit’s wooing me,church service Wednesday evening in Jasper,Alabama the message was about how God watches over and see’s even the little sparrows and he cares greatly for us
02/27/2010
It was at a specific moment when I was at my lowest..
Young. Very young.
As soon as I heard it or read it to me aloud every night.
Over 2000 years ago.
I must explain that I believe and have experienced past life regression.I was a follower when he walked the earth in the physical.
MORE GRADUAL DECISION
I grew up knowing about Jesus and our Heavenly Father and then I became a teenager and I forgot about Him but He did not forget about me.Then I was going thru a divorce and my mom never stop praying for her children ,but I was so hurt for the divorce and then my mom died and I needed Him and He started guiding me and showing me the way. And then when my son was murdered 11 years ago I needed Him again.but all this time at work people would come up to me and ask me to pray for them and I would put them in a prayer chain. See He has never left me but I left Him. I would be dead and lost without Him and I love and respect Him for taking care of All of US. God Bless.
Sice birtg!!!
Translation: Since birth!!!!
At age 14 at bible camp in Twin Peaks on July 10, 1982.
In a supermax prison on 3~21~93
I grew up Catholic too, Lois Rae Haggard Price ! was not getting what I needed from it, and not happy w/ the repetitions in prayers and everything else . I backslide for a few yrs. and am thankful to Jesus, He brought me back to Him ! He had to spank me to get my attention, but I am so thankful He did !!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I was about 4 or 5 years old! I have loved him all my life!
I remember as if it was yesterday:-) Luv hummingbirds. They r here on my hill like flies:-) mayb thts y our hill is called’Hummingbird Hill’:-) tho a small animal, they hve a ♡ the size of God:-):-):-) ty 4tht beautiful lil creature of urs Lord:-) (its almost time 4them 2leave 4the yr:-( ) I hte tht, they will b missed. But, Lord’s will, we will b here next spring with ur feeders full & waiting 4u:-) hvw a safe flight & winter!!
So sorry about your loss.
Your testimony is a wonderful reminder that the LORD is faithful. God bless you.
Who else would take us back unto Himself but Jesus. We may fail Him but He will never fail us. How could we not be thankful to Him. Praise the Lord
mY FEEDER IS OFF THE CORNER OFMY PORCH!
I can’t really say a certain day or time. I just know there was a picture of Jesus on the wall in my sister and my bedroom on a farm in Illinois when I was little. All I knew was the picture was of a man named Jesus. I wasn’t told much more than that. But I always felt something special about the man in the picture called Jesus. My mother taught me the traditional prayer… “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep” . . . We moved away from there to Az when I was about 8 yrs old, I grew up and in older life I became pretty sick one time. My Dad took me to several doctors that couldn’t detect anything wrong. I became very scared for my children – I was afraid I was dying and they would be left without a mother. I began to “cry out” to this man called Jesus “Please don’t let me die and leave these three children”… Something told me … go to a health store and just look around for good vitamins or something. The day I went, I found a book (the health store had only ONE like it) – – – Everthing was in it exactly how my condition was. It told me everything I should eat and not eat. It told me everything I should drink and not drink…. and the supplements I should take. I started getting better and better every day – and I will believe until I see Jesus that HE is the one (And His Dad 🙂 ) who led me to THAT health store , and to the only ONE book like that in the store that made me get well . . . after all those “doctors” could not help me. I will Praise His Holy Name FOREVER – And that is only one of the incredible things I know HE has done .
Rebecca, I went through the same things, and my life didn’t start changig until I stopped running from GOD. I Thank HIM daily for not giving up on me.
AMENNNNN!!!!!!
RIGHT NOW!!! THANK YOU LORD!!!
when i responded to your question ,Amen….
Amen !!!!
It’s been to long
Amen
Amen
u just know
Be blessed
Because jesus is the only one is perficted pls me lord help my daughter she needs u as everday of my life i need u. In god we trust i wont give up on my daughter or my kids amen
AMEN
the Spirit gives witness to our spirit
Amen !
u walk n places that r uncomptable to ur flesh. it will b a very big out of the box. that what it means. but it will not go against the word of God even though folks may think ur off ur rocker or crazy but God will protect provide n take u thru it when u r lead by Him
Yes.
AMEN
TRUE.
Amen!
….you just DO. Especially if it’s something you really don’t want to do. LOL seriously.
Amen!
AMEN
Amen! Thanks. 🙂
Sometimes it seems like we’re strolling tigether side-by-side, while at other times, He’s either calling to me to catch up, or kickin’ me in the butt to get a move on. I prefer the first ‘option.’ 🙂
Amen and god bless
AMEN
Amen
AMEN
Just make sure you know His Voice ~ & that what you heard from Him has been confirmed.
i did it was confimered by the word of God n yes i know His voice
Amen.
What about the females they wouldn’t be sons D-:
But amen still
Yes.
He leadeth me on the path for righteousness sake. (Psalms 23)
He shares his guidance till you get it…then continues to confirm even when the whole world may be saying…no way!!
amen
We walk, talk, live and do all things in the spirit,,WHEN ” I” tries to lead,,I recognize it and I quickly deny its right in me EVER again!!
I hope for all
amen
amen
Amen
Glory to GOD on HigH!!!!
Praise be to Jesus.
Amen
Amen
By seeing things as they truly are and still having respect for the people involved. Knowing someone doesnt truly like you for no cause and still smiling before their faces. God is good all the time!
God at this time is showing me that I need to keep my eyes on blessings and let Him take care of the things that are not right. So I keep praying to be more like Jesus. To be blind to others stuff to forgive my short Cummings. To praise Him in all things. And win things look bad to give them to Him ASAP.
AMEN
AMEN… Beautiful thing !
Amen
Amen
Help him Lord