Sometimes, God calls us to Get out of our comfort zone!

Yesterday at church was absolutely awesome. I haven’t been sleeping well over the last couple years because of sleep apnea and I end up falling asleep during the sermons. I have been working out and eating healthier and my sleep has gotten a lot better giving me an opportunity to stay up like yesterday through Bible study and church! That was just part of the story the rest is way better. My daughter who is 8 years old decided she wanted to sit in the balcony so we followed her. I was actually dreading being up there because your voice really echoes at the top of the church and I thought to myself,” If I fall asleep up here every single person will know by the sound of my snoring!” That wasn’t the case this day however as the traveling pastor came and sat down by the podium while one of our church members came up and led the song service, I noticed the look on the pastor’s face. I felt the Holy Spirit moving me to pray for him because he looked depressed and saddened by something. So I said a quick prayer but I could not keep my eyes off of him. After song service was over and the donations were collected he walked up to the microphone and with a saddened heart told us what was going on. He had multiple deaths in the last couple months from friends and family. As if mourning the passing of one friend or family member wasn’t hard enough but multiples,” Sheesh,” I couldn’t even imagine standing up there and having to deliver a sermon with all that heartache. As he was telling us about all his trials that he is going through currently he started tearing up and I felt the holy spirit’s moving me again only this time he said,”Go up and pray for him,” I immediately said,”No,”out of embarrassment. I didn’t want to walk up there and take a chance of someone saying,” You can’t go up there right now while he’s talking,” or me fumbling my words through a prayer for him in front of our entire congregation! The second time the Holy Spirit asked I left the balcony and made my way to the stage with nervousness on my mind and my heart feeling like it was going to beat out of my chest. I walked straight up to him and said can I have a hug? He said yes and then I asked his name. Then I asked you if I could pray for him right then and there on the spot. He told me his name and I started praying aloud for everyone to hear. It was an amazing feeling to have that much empathy and love running through my veins and my mind all at once. It was even better being able to hold him and show him that he is loved even though he knows that God loves him. As I was walking away I felt a calmness through my mind and my heart that just felt comfortable to say the least. It was like the Holy Spirit telling me,” You can rest now, thank you for doing what I asked. We tend to forget that a pastor has needs and wants also. A lot of times we just go up and lay our problems on them and expect them to pray for us when they need that interaction as well. They are only human and in need of love and prayer just like the rest of us. I was amazed that God would use me in a time like this, getting me out of my comfort zone. 2 Timothy 1:10 He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and Grace. Romans 8:28 and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.