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December 2, 2020One of the greatest gifts of the Christian life is being drawn into relationship with God where we experience the gift of communicating with him. We share our thoughts, feelings and desires with him, and he shares those things in his heart with us. This kind of prayer is at the heart of discipleship. In fact, it’s not until we get there that we can truly be a disciple. It’s through this kind of relationship that Jesus can begin to direct us, disciple us, train us and teach us, which is what ultimately leads to our transformation.
I spoke recently with a friend who had an experience of this kind of communication, and it had a dramatic impact on his life. I asked him to share his story so I could incorporate it into my column this issue:
From Danny Stith:
“As I look at this crazy year, I don’t have to look far to find blessings that I am grateful for. It was July 23 when this crazy year got even crazier for me. Several days earlier, I had experienced some mild chest pains as I was in the garage. I came in and told my wife that I just felt something. I didn’t know what it was but came in and sat down. The pain quickly subsided so I didn’t think any more about it. The very next afternoon, the same sensations and pain returned. Once again, I sat down for the pain to subside. I thought about needing to call and get checked out by my doctor, but certainly didn’t believe I needed to make an emergency room visit.
After a while, I got up and went back into the house. As I turned on the stove, an overwhelming sensation hit me and I heard a voice inside saying, ‘It’s time to go.’ I can’t explain why, but I knew I needed to listen to that voice and respond to it. I turned off the stove and told my wife I was heading to the heart hospital. Once there, the cardiac team quickly started going through their examination. It wasn’t too long after that that one of the technicians told us, ‘Well, it’s not a heart attack,’ which the blood enzymes had confirmed. The technicians started unhooking me from the machines, and one by one they left the room.
As the last technician left the room and the door closed, I could feel my chest imploding. In a matter of minutes, I found myself on the operating table. What I found out the next morning from my doctor was that I was extremely ‘blessed.’ He told me that normally a person doesn’t come to the heart hospital to have their heart attack. But, that’s exactly what happened for me. The nurses and technicians had already completed all their paperwork for my release after their first examination. They couldn’t find any signs of a heart attack because it hadn’t happened yet! They were persuaded by my family to re-run some of the same tests. It was at that time they discovered I was indeed in cardiac arrest.
My doctor told me that I probably would have only had four minutes to live, as I had a blood clot in my main artery. The heart attack I was experiencing is commonly referred to as the ‘widow maker.’ He was the first person to tell me that he was glad that I had listened to my body. But, I know that it wasn’t my body I was listening to! I was listening to that still small voice inside, to my Lord and my God! Or maybe it was my guardian angel. Either way, He clearly told me ‘It’s time to go.’ When I look back on 2020, I will always remember the blessings of July 23.”
Danny’s story is a great example of how hearing God’s voice in our inner heart can save our lives! That’s not what it’s like every time, obviously, but it is a powerful story. I want to pull a few key principles out of the whole thing that speak to us about discipleship.
First, discipleship depends upon receptivity. One of the greatest qualities we can have is a receptivity to God, a listening heart and ear, and even an expectant faith that God actually does want to speak to us. We need to constantly pray for a grace of receptivity, and that God would expand our capacity to receive more of what he wants to give us. Part of this kind of receptivity is being aware when God is talking. If Danny wouldn’t have paid attention when God was speaking in his inner heart, he may have never heard what was being communicated.
Second, discipleship depends upon docility. It’s one thing to hear what God is saying. But, you also have to respond to the message. When Danny heard those words, “It’s time to go,” he could have thought that he was just making it all up, or that he was overreacting, or a number of other things. What I love about his story is the somewhat matter-of-fact response, “I turned off the stove and told my wife I was heading to the heart hospital.” That’s the kind of docility we need to have; not questioning what was said, just obedient response.
And, finally, a disciple needs to show gratitude. Danny’s whole story starts with, “I don’t have to look far to find blessings that I am grateful for.” He’s like the one of 10 lepers who after being healed was the only one who returned to Jesus to say thank you and express gratitude.
Receptivity, docility, gratitude – a three-fold framework for disciples. As we move into the Christmas holiday, how can you see this progression in your own experience. How might God be wanting to speak into your heart, and be giving you grace to be docile and respond? And, how is he inviting you to gratitude of heart for all the ways He has blessed you this past year, despite all the hardship and difficulty?