God Will Get Your Attention

1:34 am and I am awake because earlier this evening I was in the bath tub taking a bubbly bath and having myself a pity party. Nothing like a good pity party to wake you up. As I got out, get dressed for bed and gave my husband a hug I began to hear God's voice.

There are times when we are down, when we are sad because it is a time for mourning. There are other times when we have pity parties that are worthless, pity parties that we shouldn't have. I was having one of those.

We have to go back a little bit more to 9:00 tonight. I had my 90 day performance eval. at work tonight, and lo and behold I am doing well. Most people would be excited. Yes, it is nice to know that my hard work and good attitude are noticed by my superiors. But, Satan and his minions were nudging me. The un-godly thoughts were invading my mind.

I came home tired and quite achy, so I got into the bath tub and turned on some praise music. Sometimes, not even praise music is enough to drown out the evil minions, and my own dark thoughts. I didn't do what I should have. I should have recognized what was happening and stopped to pray and seek the Spirit's help to turn my mood and thoughts around.

I was thinking "Oh joy! I can scan groceries! Woo Hoo! (full of sarcasm) Any yahoo can do that!" and "Has my life REALLY come to this? I have a Master's degree and here I am spending hours a day scanning groceries and making a smidge above minimum wage. I deserve better!"

I was feeling sorry for myself. Not godly. Any honest job is a good job to have (especially in this economy), and there is a reason that I am where I am. Finally, I stopped feeling sorry for myself long enough to hear God say "Child, be quiet for a minute."

I listened as His still small voice reminded me of the truths that I know, but was ignoring. I HAVE a job, it is very important that I do my best at said job. It is a good job because it helps people. I work with some great people. He puts a plethora of people in my path each day to pray for. No honest job is below or above me. I am here for a reason, doing this for a reason, and He has a plan.

When I look at things from HIS perspective, it is hard to have a pity party. I confessed my sin, and began to let the truth of the lyrics of the songs begin to permeate to my soul.

The truth about God that I learned tonight. God will get your attention. God will speak to you, to me, to each of us in the way that we need Him to. God wants to help us learn, grow and mature. It is sometimes embarrassing to have to confess my sins and say, "God, I did THIS again, and once again I'm so sorry. I know I should be over this struggle by now, be well, guess I messed up, AGAIN."

God is beside us, guiding us, loving us, correcting us, and patiently waiting for us to tune into His voice, to give Him our attention. I could have saved myself half an hour of pain if I had obeyed in the first place and not given into the lies that were causing my pity party. Yet, God was there to speak to me, and to help me turn back to His light.

Praise the Lord that God goes to whatever lengths we need, so that we turn and give Him our attention!

-JLP-