Obedience

My close friend, and Mary Kay Sales Director, from Florida was in town this weekend. I love her. I can always count on her to speak the truth, boldly, in love to me. She told me this past weekend that when she comes to visit me that she prays for God to use her to speak to me and that she never knows exactly what that will entail. God's message through her this time was about obedience. "Allison, ask God what he wants you to do, listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and then DO what God says to do." This is applicable to my personal spiritual life and to my Mary Kay business. So, that night after I left her, I asked God what he wanted me to do (fully expecting him to give me an answer within the context of my Mary Kay business).

Brock is a fictitious name that I have chosen since I do not currently (or ever recall knowing) know a Brock and because I do not have permission to use the name of the real person.

Allison: "I am going to be obedient. God, what do you want me to do?"

God: "Go and tell Brock, in person, that you lied to him."

Allison: "What, that has nothing to do with Mary Kay?!"

God: "I know. Didn't you tell me that you wanted to be obedient?"

Allison: "Yes."

God: "Then be obedient. Go and tell Brock, in person, that you lied to him."

Allison: "But God, I asked you to forgive me for that 4 months ago and I know you did."

God: "Yes, Allison, I did forgive you. Go."

Allison: "But I don't want to mess up the relationship that Brock and I have rebuilt. I like our relationship. This may ruin it! I love our relationship."

God: "Do you love me? Do you love our relationship?"

For the first time ever I distinctly heard God ask me to choose between him and something else. I chose to obey God and show my love for him and his place in my life.

I wanted to ask God to ensure that Brock would forgive me so that this would be smooth and easy; but, I resisted the temptation to insult God in such a way. I only asked God to prepare Brock's heart so his answer would be yes to meeting me right then. I called Brock and he agreed to meet me in person right then. I cried half of the way to Brock's house that night. I was scared of Brock's reaction; but, had ultimately made my decision out of love for my Heavenly Father. I knew this was the right thing to do and part of me was proud. The other part of me continued to tell God how much I really didn't want to do this.

I obeyed God that evening and Brock forgave me with a compassion I had never seen in him before. He also assured me that our relationship would continue to grow. I thanked God for this because in the end it made the lesson easily learned. However, I am not too naive to know that this will not always be the case with lessons I am to learn.

God, You are Everything to me!