A PRAISE GOD MOMENT In the late 60’s, students who arrived a few weeks early for the Fall session at MBI were temporarily housed in whatever dorms were ready for the new arrivals. Roomates were also temporary and my newest one Steve became an instant friend. He had completed his sophomore year. I was about to begin mine, and he had some candid upperclassman advice for me. He was blond and handsome and had a great natural build, so there was no surprise when he casually recalled for me his many athletic achievements over the previous few years. As roommates we got along well, maybe because we didn't see much of each other. He worked the night shift at a suburban factory, and out of consideration for me he would gingerly tiptoe into our dorm room sometime before dawn. On one particular night he had quietly come in without waking me and he was soon fast asleep. It wasn’t long however when he rolled over, blurting out "praise God", and thus awaking me the light sleeper. He was still out like a light, but his unconscious words spoke volumes, impressing me for the rest of my life. Immersed in the “praise God” environment of arguably the finest Bible institute the world has ever known, it was easy then to think that I knew God’s will for my life, or at least to believe the revelation of such would be just around the bend. Life however keeps throwing curve balls at us, and our perception of God’s will is altered time and again. The time, place, and circumstances in which you and I find ourselves right at this moment are likely to be exactly the place we’re supposed to be, right in the center of God’s will even it doesn’ t appear to be so. If we will but pause to reflect, we might be able to connect the dots. We cannot allow our current situations, however horrible or fabulous, to dictate our actions. Plain and simple - we have invested in serving God, and circumstances, although relevant from a worldly perspective, often have nothing to do with God’s will for us, nor our personal relationship with the One Who truly cares about our well being. Fourty years have passed, and not only can I still hear Steve’s words in my head, but I find that they’re my words too. Sometimes I even surprise myself when I blurt out “praise God” or “thank you Jesus” at seemingly the strangest moments. The words are part of me, they’re what’s in me, even if a bit subconscious as Steve’s were. I’m certain that I will never see this guy again in this life, but most assuredly will in the next. Thanks Steve. “Awake my soul…..I will praise You….. be exalted above the heavens, let Your glory be over all the earth” Paslm 57:8, 11 |
