Daily PresenceSample

The hardest decision I ever made was moving to the USA. Not just because of having to say goodbye to everything I had in Costa Rica, but also because of having to say no to a ministry position that seemed unreal at the time. It was 2017 when I walked into my pastor’s office and was offered a position that was beyond my wildest dreams. NEVER in a million years would I have expected to be offered a position as the successor of the lead pastor. In the midst of my illusion and my feelings of inadequacy, there was something inside of me that knew God had called me to move to the USA. My pastor attempted to convince me to stay, to be honest, it was tempting. In my heart, I knew it was against what God was calling me to do. So, with a lot of pain, I denied the position and embarked on a journey to Lakeland, Florida to begin my theological training.

I love the story of the man of God in 1 Kings 13. He is convinced in his heart that he is obeying God. It is encouraging and convicting. This man first prophecies something in front of king Jeroboam that could get him killed. After that, in verses 8-9 he denies the invitation of being wined and dined by the king under the conviction: “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here, for I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’” His convictions were stronger than his condition. Later on, he is tricked and pays a high price for disobeying God.

What is so inspiring and convicting about this man is that in his first go-around he cares more about being obedient than obtaining fleshly desires. I wonder what it would look like today for us to have this kind of zeal. The confidence and strength to say, “There is nothing that will make me disobey God today!” or “My sinful condition is no match to my conviction.”

Then, in his second go, a prophet lies to him by saying, “God spoke to me”, and he caves in. The man of God knew what the Lord had told him, and yet he let his convictions falter. Today, pray for the same conviction of the man of God’s first go, and not the sinful condition exemplified by the second.