But, Lord, I'm A Southern Baptist

A Surprise

I didn�t feel anything out of the ordinary during the praise and worship time. I just stood there. As the music died down and the pastor made his way to the pulpit to make announcements, a woman in the back of the church began to speak in tongues. A hush came over the church and the music stopped. All attention and focus was given to the message in tongues.

Being in a Pentecostal church, this manifestation did not really surprise me. I had heard this sort of "thing" before, and I really didn�t believe it was genuine. In fact, I had explained it away by concluding that it was just an "emotional outburst from emotionally weak people."

As I dismissed it, I said to myself, "I�VE ASKED GOD BEFORE TO DO ALL HE WANTED TO DO IN ME, AND HE�S NEVER HAD ME DO THAT!" As far as I was concerned, I didn�t see a place for tongues in church.

Suddenly, an amazing thing happened. As this woman finished speaking, I realized that I knew EXACTLY what she was saying! God gave ME the interpretation. I was absolutely shocked.

I knew that the person who received the interpretation was expected to verbalize it to the assembly. I said to myself, "WAIT A MINUTE, I�M NOT DOING THAT!" I justified my disobedience by convincing myself that, first of all, I was a visitor and, secondly, I reminded God that I did not believe in this sort of thing. I said to Him, "BUT LORD, I�M A SOUTHERN BAPTIST, I CAN�T DO THAT." The message remained uninterpreted.

The next day, I couldn�t stop thinking about what had happened. I knew the interpretation was just for me! That�s why God didn�t allow anyone else to give it. For the first time since I started fasting, I prayed.

Now you would think that if someone was called to fast, he would spend a significant amount of time in prayer. I was just doing what I�d always done�still using my intellect to approach God, and I didn�t need prayer for that.

So, for the first time in 29 days I prayed in earnest. "LORD, I�M TROUBLED. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME LAST NIGHT? WHY HAVE YOU NOT DONE SOMETHING IN ME TO REMOVE THIS PAIN?" As plain as day, I heard God say, "YOU FASTED FOR 28 DAYS, I APPEARED TO YOU, AND YOU DIDN�T TAKE WHAT I GAVE YOU." I didn�t need a theologian to explain to me what that meant. God wanted me to choose. He was saying, "DO YOU WANT WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOU, OR DO YOU WANT WHAT I WANT FOR YOU?"

With a broken spirit, I confessed to God that I wanted what He wanted for me. I repented for my disobedience and cried out, "LORD, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WITH ME." I began to feel a sense of urgency, like time was running out. I felt as though God was passing me by, and I didn�t want that to happen! For the first time in a long time, I was GENUINELY seeking God.