Articles

Recognizing Divine Moments – Article by Jeannine Rodriguez   I don’t know about you, but I’m learning that one of the classic signs I’m about to have a divine moment is when I get annoyed or offended to the point where it becomes a major distraction as I’m going about my day or in a conversation with someone. Ever have that experience?   Take for example a conversation I had the other day. Someone was sharing about a missions trip. The sharing turned into emphatic, borderline angry preaching that went on for about an hour. About 15 minutes into it, I started getting annoyed, even offended. And to be totally honest, at that point, I went in and out of listening. When I wasn’t listening, all these thoughts were running through my head like, “Am I ever going to get a word in edge-wise? Does this person not care about what I think?  Does this person really think I’ve never heard what they’re saying before?!” You get the picture.   So, imagine my surprise when about ten minutes later, I felt the presence of God come. Imagine how much more surprised I was when I discovered that what the person was sharing was anointed and was what brought the presence of God!  You mean God doesn’t share my opinions?  He’s not always offended by the things I’m offended by? Shocker!!   What was incredible was that as God’s presence increased, He began giving me revelation through what the person was saying.  He reminded me of places in the world He wants me take people on outreach. I had visions of the places as the person was talking and began to see in the Spirit things that would happen there. And He showed me that the very message the person was sharing (yes, the one that had been offending me!) was key to understanding His plan for those trips.  I’m so glad that God has grace for me when my humanity is flying in my face and showing me how much more like Him I need Him to make me!     Gratefully, I’m in good company.  Jesus’ disciples did the same thing.  Take for example in Matthew 15 when the Canaanite woman cried out to Jesus about her daughter being possessed by a demon.  I think it’s fair to say that the disciples at least got annoyed, maybe even offended, since their response was, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out at us.”   Jesus doesn’t send her away but doesn’t immediately heal her either (that’s a story for another article).  After she continues to press, he responds, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And the scripture then says that her daughter was healed from that very hour.  A divine moment happened. Heaven came to earth and the girl was healed.  Imagine if the disciples had gotten their way!   The next time you get annoyed or offended, take a moment and see if it just might be that God is about to interrupt your day and do the same thing for you…bring Heaven to earth in you, through you or around you.  It’s much better than staying annoyed or offended, don’t you think?