Stop

I’ve grown up knowing exactly what a Stop sign means. I also learned the silly phrase that makes the word STOP an acronym after I started driving. Someone told me the word “Stop” on the sign meant “Step Toe On Pedal” or “Squeal Tires On Pavement”. The dictionary says, “Stop means to cause an action or activity to end”. I’ve learned to stop what I’m doing and be present when one of my agents/friends needs me. I also need to learn to stop and notice things that if I’m going too fast, I might miss. Mac Davis, a singer songwriter back in the 70’s had a song that I learned as a kid called: “Stop and Smell The Roses”. The song reminded me to notice things around me every day and do not take life for granted.

Balaam was a character in the Old Testament that on one hand seemed to follow the Lord’s leading. He also liked the prestige of being sought out by kings and princes. The Lord spared him by using a donkey to stop him. Check this out.

26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?’

29 Balaam answered the donkey, ‘You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you here and now.’

30 The donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?’

‘No,’ he said.

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell face down. (Numbers 22:26-31 NIV)

There are times that The Lord says, “Stop”. He doesn’t always give an explanation to His instruction. I have learned over the years that He’s looking out for my best interest and me when He tells me to stop. I remember a friend of mine who barely missed a flight that he was trying to make only to learn later that the flight had crashed and everyone on board died. I think that there are times when the Lord closes a door for my protection. I need to notice when the Lord is saying “stop” or “slow down”. There could very well be a reason why He’s directing my path. I don’t want to be so “hard headed” or “hard-of-hearing” that He has to use a donkey to speak to me.

My journey with the Lord really requires me to listen to His Spirit speaking into my heart and prompting to do or not do certain things. His Spirit will actually shape my words and my activity if I will learn to listen and let The Lord lead. Today I want to listen to the Lord today as He directs my path and also guards my steps.

Pressing On!

Dwayne