“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
– Matthew 1:16-18
![]() Yesterday, we talked about taking action and how doing things is a natural part of our lives as believers. Today, I want to offer you a challenge: think about a time when a split-second decision changed the course of your life for the better. Maybe it was asking a girl for her number, saying “yes” to a first date, trying a new church, or accepting a job offer even though it seemed way out of your league. Whatever the case, sometimes taking action when your spirit says “go” is the key to unlocking God’s greatest gifts. This was certainly the case for me at the start of my relationship with Hannah. Some of you may have heard the story, but I was basically a 19-year-old geek who had a crush on this gorgeous girl who happened to have a boyfriend who was a friend of mine. For years, I wanted to date her, and when the time finally came and she broke up with this guy, I wanted to be the first in line (but believe me, there were many others). By chance, Hannah, her brother, and another friend of his were out visiting California from Oklahoma not too long after the break up. In spending some time with her that week, I sensed chemistry and I knew I wanted to get to know her better. This sparked a thought: what if I could dance with her at her brother’s wedding? (which happened to be taking place in exactly one week in Tulsa, which was over 2,000 miles away). Without thinking, I asked her if she would give me either the first or last dance if I made it out for the special occasion. Assuredly, she replied, “I’ll one up you. If you come to my brother’s wedding, I will give you both.” That was it! I didn’t know how I was going to get there or where I was going to get the money, but I looked at her and said, “I’ll be there!” I’ve often wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t gone to that wedding. Would she have gotten back together with her old boyfriend or started dating someone else? Whatever the case, my decision to say “yes” in that moment totally altered the course of my life… for the good! Friend, if opportunity knocks on your door today, don’t hesitate to answer its call. When you live and move in Jesus and rely daily on His Spirit, He won’t steer you wrong, and if you do happen to take an incorrect turn, He will straighten it out. Like the disciples, when the Lord calls, follow Him by saying yes to His lead. Don’t take time to talk yourself out of it or try to make sense of it, but act in faith to pursue divine promptings — you never know how they will change the course of your life and the lives of those around you! |
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for the split-second opportunities you bring my way. May I walk close to you every day so I never miss a life-altering “yes.”
Reflection
When and how did a split-second decision change the course of your life? What did it teach you about taking action?