SAY THIS OUT LOUD: God is not angry with me! Maybe you need to say it 10 times. But say it until you believe it!
We were here in Tulsa Oklahoma with a team ready to go out to do evangelism. We had prepared multiple food boxes and were going door to door praying with people and giving away food. Before we left, I felt prompted to ask the Holy Spirit if there was anything He wanted me to know about where we were going? As I prayed and sat quietly to listen for a few minutes I heard the name, ” Kevin”. I quickly wrote it down in the notes of my phone. Then off we went.
The first apartment complex we came to seemed vacant. We knocked on several doors and no one answered. I was feeling a bit discouraged, and the weight of the food box was heavy. After knocking on my third door and no answer I saw a car drive up. Two young men get out and begin talking. I was about to go to my fourth door when I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to go over to the two young men.
As I approached them, I could tell they really didn’t want to talk to me. It felt uncomfortable and intrusive. But I pushed through the awkwardness and decided God sent me here for people, not to knock on doors all night!
I began by asking, “Hey do y’all need any food? We’re here to help and serve the community and I have a free food box if y’all can use it.” Quickly they said, “No thank you. We are good”. I replied, “Hey no problem. What about prayer? ” again they replied, “No thank you, we are good.” Going for my last straw, I said, “Hey, I know you don’t need food or prayer, but I’m a Christian and it would be wrong for me to leave and not ask you about your relationship to Jesus. Do you have one and would you like one?”Again, they replied, “No we are good!” Shot down three times I was sure this was, what in evangelism we call a ‘red light’. Recognize the rejection and move on.
However, as I was about to ‘move on’ God reminded me of the name inside phone. So as awkward as it was, I said, “Hey I know y’all are all good, but I just realized I never introduced myself. My name is Peggy, what is yours?” Reluctantly, they replied. “My name is Dick, and my name is Kevin.”
I about fell over. All the awkwardness left (at least on my side) and boldness overtook me. I looked directly at Kevin and said, “I know this might sound weird, but will you look at my phone” Kevin moved closer as I held out my phone. “What do you see?” He read his name out loud with a bit of a shock and unbelief. I then said, “Kevin, God gave me your name before I came out tonight. He told me you’re running from Him, but He loves you. He told me to tell you, ‘He is not angry with you.’ He has been pursuing you for a long time and desires a relationship with you. He wants you to know that if you will just cry out to Jesus, He will meet you, help you and heal you.”
At this point Dick’s eyes are wide and his mouth had dropped. Kevin is fighting back tears standing shocked. I then turned and said, “Alright it was so nice to meet y’all. I pray you have a good night.”
That encounter taught me three things.
First, to ask God before going out what He desires to do and who He desires me to talk with. When I ask and then listen, He speaks. I don’t want to miss encounters because I wasn’t listening. My first three interactions with these two young men would have told me to move on. However, because I had waited on the Lord before going, I was able to have insight into the unseen and unknown. This insight enabled for me to be more effective in evangelism. God is after hearts not gospel shares.
Second, I learned, When I lean into the first word from God, He gives me the rest. When I left that night all I had was a name. But when I showed Kevin his name in my phone, God gave me the rest. We must take the first step of obedience to get the second!
Third, I learned that God isn’t angry with people over their sin. He isn’t upset and mad because you or Kevin have been making wrong choices. He loved Kevin and He loves you. He is after your heart. He knows how easy it is for us to be lured away and enticed by our sin nature. He knows all Hell is after your soul. You have a real enemy, and He desires to kill, steal, & destroy your purpose. He desires to keep you from living the God designed destiny over your life.
God isn’t mad at you. No! He is a loving Father that desires the best for you. He desires to bring healing and wholeness to you. He desires to turn ashes to beauty.
The question is, will you let Him?
No matter what your past has been — no matter how terrible you have been — no matter what you have done — God still loves you and desires for you to turn everything over to Him. This is the reason Jesus died on the cross, to show you the greatness of God’s love for you, and to make a way for you to be forgiven and not separated from God any longer.
So now I want to encourage you to do something!
SAY THIS OUT LOUD: God is not angry with me!
Maybe you need to say it 10 times. But say it until you believe it!
ISAIAH 54:9-10; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19; EPHESIANS 1:7
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