Comfort Zones

We got up for store call earlier than usual this morning. I guess the guards wanted to get it out of the way so they could sit in their air conditioned cube before it got too hot. Getting out earlier was nice. The sky was blue without a cloud in the sky, the grass still wet with dew, and a nice breeze. 

Psalm 19:1 "the heavens declare the glory of God  and the firmament shows His handiwork." 

Obviously Satan hadn't crawled out of bed yet and drug the sticky heat with him this morning because it was abnormally nice out. Thanks to God’s provision through family, I was blessed with the ability to buy a Ham and cheese sandwich for lunch and a few other items. I got brave and tried something new which rarely happens. All of which I didn't work for. I don't like the feeling of being dependent on people to send money to buy the things I want or need. It always leads me to feeling guilty when I buy stuff, knowing I’m not home to help my wife with bills. Part of God’s lesson in humility, I suppose. 

I was just talking to a friend about God showing me while I’ve been in prison that He doesnt even need me to provide for my family. He has provided for Ashley through my absence. Squirrel! Anyway, got off on a rabbit trail. I got a big cinnamon roll and actually enjoyed it. I rarely venture from my normal choices in food, for fear of being disappointed and regretting that I didn't get what I always get. This leads me to today's topic. I wonder how many times my "safe choices" and refusal to leave my comfort zone cause me to miss out on what God has for me. 

The promised land and the Israelites came to mind. God wanted to give them the promised land and through their disobedience it slowed that process down just a bit. The Bible is full of people who did anything but make safe choices. Rahab the harlot. I wonder what I would be called? Cody the fervent pessimist? Put me and Eeyore together in a movie and its sure to be a hit lol. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that's a good one. We wouldn't have the encouragement of "another in the fire" had they taken the easy choice. This all ties into this week’s conversations that lead me to this topic. 

Ashley was watching The Chosen with the kids and Myleigh paused the show to ponder if she would have made the same choice as Nicodemus. (talked to an inmate who recalled him as Notordamus in his recollection of scripture this week lol. I didn't correct him the conversation has been a long time coming and didn't want to stop him from finally talking about the gospel.)  Another “squirrel!” moment lol 

Anyway, I imagine that being a tougher question to answer back then if it meant leaving their home and family to follow Jesus. When Jesus was walking the Earth, they had been waiting for the Messiah and only had signs and the promise that He was coming. Seeing those signs and meeting Him face to face must have been surreal and a lot to process. It probably took a lot of faith to believe He was who He said He was. We have the advantage of reading the New Testament and knowing He is the Messiah. We know how His story ends and they didn't. So I imagine having the mindset of "of course I'd drop everything and follow Him" would have been much more difficult back then than it is for us now, since we have the advantage of having full knowledge of who He is and what He’s done for us according to the Scriptures.

God has been working on me since I've been here. For those of you who know me, you know I'm not a people person. So, figuring out how to leave my comfort zone and talk to these guys about Jesus is difficult for me. Since accepting Christ as my saviour two years ago I've had a desire for others to receive the gift I have received in Him. 

But, when faced with an awkward conversation with someone adamantly and defensively against the gospel, and sitting by myself and emailing my wife I'd much rather choose the latter. God has been gently and patiently poking me, convicting me when to speak even in writing these emails. I'm not a writer, I'm not college educated, and I’m certainly not a Bible scholar. I feel like I'm not typing anything everyone else doesn’t already know or couldn’t find on their own. But, somehow I have felt like I need to type up my jibberish, elementary take on my daily reading and thoughts. 

If the Holy Spirit tells me to do something I'm trying my best to comply. I'm begging God for a miracle that only He can provide so I want to be completely in step with His will even if I feel like I'm not doing anything or feel like I’m doing a bad job of getting the point across.

It may not be for any other purpose than a test of obedience. An act of faith was enough when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. God didn’t want him to do it, He just wanted to see Abraham willing to do what was asked. So, even if I feel silly typing up these emails, or having awkward conversations with the guys in here, I want to be inside God’s will and display my obedience as best as I can while I ask and wait for a miracle. 

As awkward as some conversations may be to start I'm sure standing face to face with Jesus and explaining why I didn't share the gospel with someone will be far more uncomfortable. What’s worse is the thought of walking into heaven knowing someone is in hell because I was too uncomfortable to talk to them. Who does this bring to mind in your life? I encourage you to have that awkward conversation this week to save a far worse one with Jesus one day. I hope this gives you the extra push you needed to step out of your comfort zone and I’ll look forward to swapping stories when I get out and see who won the most awkward conversation award. As long as God gets the glory, that’s what matters. He will give you just what you need to push through those uncomfortable moments when you choose to follow Him.