Spiritually Myopic – The lack of spiritual discernment. Being unaware of the of God’s will and or purpose at a particular moment or in a particular situation.
Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
The long day started at 5:00 a.m. with a three hour drive to teach all day at a District Pastors and Leaders meeting in a rural church in Honduras. By noon the temperature was about 90º in the small crowded tin roof class room. In spite of the uncomfortable heat and humidity, it was a blessing to teach and fellowship with the pastors all day. I finished teaching the last class by late afternoon and by then I was more than ready to get into my air-conditioned Toyota Land Cruiser for the long drive home where a warm shower and my comfortable bed was waiting for me.
As I was saying good-bye to some friends and heading back to my vehicle, the wife of the Supervisor who was traveling with me derailed my self-centered intentions of leaving for home by telling me that everyone was waiting for us at the church so we could pray with them. I was tired and really wanted to “hit the road”, praying was not what I really intended or wanted to do, but I had no choice, I had to reluctantly concede to her requests.
Upon entering the small church, to my surprise it was full, there were about fifty people, some even standing, waiting not for the missionary but for the opportunity to seek the Lord and pray. I thought everyone was as eager as I was to get home, because none of the Pastors or Leaders had vehicles and many had a two-hour or longer bus ride ahead of them, and others had to walk more than an hour to get home.
1 We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. 3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:1-3, New Living Translation
I was hot, sticky, and tired, I wanted to get this unanticipated prayer meeting over with as soon as possible. While trying to establish a sense of order and direction of this unplanned prayer meeting, I was in constant competition with a crying baby at the back of the church. Annoyed, I really wanted to tell whomever the person was holding that crying distraction to take the baby outside so the rest of us could hear and pray for the needs of the pastors.
By that late hour, the sun was low on the horizon and brightly glaring in through the open door and windows at the rear of the church. At the front of the church from where we were praying with and for the leaders, I could not make out the faces of those standing by the door and windows because of the bright sun.
When I asked if anyone need prayer for any physical issue they might have to come forward, the person whose identity was hidden by the brilliant sunlight and who was holding the crying baby came forward. To my surprise, it was the new pastor of the church where we were having the meeting. When he reached the front of the church with his crying and trembling daughter in his arms, he asked that we pray for her. I could see that she was covered with a rash which was the reason why she was uncontrollably crying during the prayer meeting. Immediately, as soon as we all began to pray for her she stopped crying. Even though the rash was still visibly evident, the relief from the irritation of rash was obvious to everyone present, which was an awesome conclusion to the prayer meeting that I initially did not plan to conduct.
Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21
I never knew what was the cause of that rash on that baby, or if it ever cleared up. But what I do know and will never forget is, that God wanted to teach me something about myself and my plans which was eclipsing His purpose of what He wanted to accomplish that day in the lives of a needy baby and desperate father. The lesson I needed to learn was not about divine healing, but it was how my good but self-centered intentions of getting the job done and then going home, was causing me not to be sensitive to God’s greater purpose for me that day which was more than just teaching a group of Pastors and Leaders.
I was contently fulfilling God’s will for my life and experiencing the fulfillment of my dreams by ministering as a “Foursquare Missionary” that day at the District meeting, teaching Pastors and Leaders. Initially I was oblivious to God’s other purpose for me being there at the prayer meeting and Him wanting to use me to lead all who were present to pray for that suffering baby. I needed to learn what it was to live, experience and minister for God’s purpose and not only just for my dreams, desires and goals.
It is not that our desires or dreams are bad or are even in contradiction of God’s will for our lives. However, there can be times when our desires and dreams can be our only focus and motivation for ministry or for doing our thing for God. When our desire and motivation is to fulfill God’s will, we should also strive to stay sensitive or discerning to His purposes. As a result, our dreams, desires and plans are realized and experienced in a way than we could never have even imagined.
How many times have we faced situations where we did not want to go or do something because it was not in our original plans, but realizing it was God’s will we reluctantly went or did it anyway. And when it was over we were blessed to realize and experience God’s purpose for others and ourselves.
Pastor John
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13
