Do Not Disturb

Posted on May 4, 2022 in Uncategorized |

Do not Disturb

My kids, as I’m sure most kids, love to stay in hotels. This was especially true when they were younger. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, it would be a whole experience of being somewhere new, sleeping in a new place and a new environment all of it just excites them. They check out the bathroom and Oooo and Aaahh about anything from the bathroom mirror, the sink, the view, the TV, the curtains or blinds. It’s pretty hilarious and honestly, pretty entertaining to watch.

For my husband, at a hotel.. it’s a completely different experience (which I will admit is sometimes equally entertaining). He doesn’t like hotels much at all. The feelings of being “at home” are gone and the unknowns that surround His family are simply uncomfortable. So, every time we are at a hotel, he hangs the “Do not Disturb” sign on the door and there it will stay until we check out. No one comes in our room to clean, touch or disturb anything while we are there.

Everything is under control

Sometimes in life we hang our “do not disturb” signs on the door of our lives not wanting anything to come in and disrupt our comfortable day to day life. This message hits home so hard for me. I like my life, I’m happy with what my day’s bring, I like to keep things in my control and I like to plan as much as possible for it to go smoothly or as expected. I love that “do not disturb” sign. It means this is my area and no one will be coming or going in or out unless I have given them permission. I have control of what happens in this room. (or in my life)

The Reality is…

The reality is, obviously, life doesn’t work that way… And when things didn’t go according to plan, I. Didn’t. Like it. For many years, God has been patiently working at removing from me that tendency to have control, to foresee the outcome and/or my expected outcome. I’m sure this whole process has been entertaining for the Lord watching from above! (and I’m also sure he is happy with the progress, no matter how little, I have made)

TRUST

He has shown me that the root of my need to control things was a lack of trust in Him. Because, when I trust in Him completely, I can believe He has a plan for me. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I can believe God is FOR me. He has my best interests at heart, he hasn’t forgotten me or left me. He says in Hebrews 13:5-6, “I will never leave you or forsake you” so we can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper I will not fear, What can man do to me?” We can trust Him. He is faithful to us.

Keep in Touch with the Lord

We must keep in touch with the Lord, if we want to build our trust in Him. He has much to say to you and I today. Did you read that right?! He has much to say to You today, He wants to lead you and guide you so that you will not stumble. He has THE BEST plan for you. It is His desire to direct you to the safe paths and give you opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those around you. He wants You to shine brightly for Him, but we cannot do that if we aren’t keeping in touch with Him. If we have our “do not disturb” signs out we will not be able to communicate with Him, He won’t be able to work in or through us.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written, “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” He is going to take care of us, we need not fear. It is safe to remove the “do not disturb” sign and trust that He is going to provide, he is going to protect, He is going to take care of you and I, no matter what.

Holy Spirit You are welcome here.

Once we remove that “do not disturb” sign, we feel vulnerable, we feel exposed, we feel uncomfortable. But when we say “Holy Spirit you are welcome here” He is able to come in and bring healing, bring peace, bring strength and courage. He is finally able to come in and do His work in and through us, but we must invite Him and take that “do not disturb” sign down. We also must be careful that in those moments of vulnerability and uncomfortable moments we don’t run and put that sign back up. Trust Him. He is well able. Nothing is impossible with God in the center. He will not bring harm to you, He has a plan.

You are a temple of the Living God.

We cannot live our lives the same way non-believers live. We are called out from them. You and I are Chosen by God, picked out from among the many to live with Him and His remnant. We must live according to a different set of rules. You and I must be the man or woman God has called you to be and I can assure you it won’t look like anyone else’s life around you. You’re called to be different because You are called to be a light. A light in a dark place, a light pointing them to Jesus.

The word says in Timothy “guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Other versions say, guard the treasure entrusted to you. God has given us a gift, a gift of His holy spirit living within us. We must guard it, it is a treasure, we were entrusted with this precious gift. What are we doing with it? Are we hanging our “do not disturb” signs up telling him to leave us alone? If we have, take it down. Take it down now and begin a new journey today of elevating your prayer life and your commitment to God. Trust in Him for all things. 2 Corinthians 6:16 say’s “For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them I will be their God and they shall be my people”

Keep in touch with Me, say’s the Lord.

We are the House of the living God. You are the house, dwelling place, for the very Spirit of God. He lives in You and I today. He says in Matt. 21:31, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46 “My house shall be called a house of prayer” Let your house no longer hold the “do not disturb” sign, but let it be called a house of prayer, welcoming in the Holy Spirit and all He pleases to do. Let our house, our temple, our room—whatever you want to call it not be ours but His so He may do as He pleases, and all that come in and go out of our lives is His call, not ours.

Encouragement and warning

Mark 4:24-25 Then He said to them, “take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

If we are listening and we hear what the Lord says, and we take heed to it. He will give more to us! But for those who do not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Let’s pray:

Lord, we ask, let us not be like those who do not have an ability to hear you. Open our eyes and our ears to hear you. Give us instruction and place within our very souls a drive to keep in touch with you. Stir our hearts for your ways, turn our insides when your presence is near, shake our bones that they will come alive when Your words are spoken. Let Your Words rise up from within our belly’s and speak truth to those you’ve called us to speak to. Open doors of communication with those whom you’ve called us to minister to.

We say to You Holy Spirit -You are welcome here, Here I am Lord- use me. I will make an effort today and every day to squash the flesh that tries to distract and keep me from Your will and Your way. Let me become more aware of the attack of the enemy. And more aware of his ploys to keep me from spending time learning from You. Go before me Lord, Help Me. Thank You for your promises, thank you for your faithfulness, and thank You for Your love you have for me. Let Your will be done in my life today and forever, Amen!

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