A few years ago, I had been working long hours on my computer trying to build our church website and creating the design for the production of our hospitality package.
As I rounded up the work for the day about 3.00am in the morning, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me: “Back up your computer”, as I made to shut down the computer. I hesitated for all of 10 seconds before I reasoned to myself that it was too late in the day to wait up for a system backup; I’ll do it in the morning.
Again, the Holy Spirit gently nudged me: “Back up your computer”.
In turn, I reasoned again in much less time than it took me the first time, that since I was shutting down the system anyway, I could always do the backup first thing in the morning when I turned on the system again. That made a lot of sense to me. I turned off the system and went off to sleep.
When morning came, I went into my study, switched on the computer ready to continue my work. As the computer began to boot up, it suddenly stopped midway, gave out three system chimes and the dreaded “blue screen of death” showed up! Soon after, a message showed up on my screen that I should standby, as my hard drive was being formatted. In layman’s language, 3 years worth of work stored on the computer – documents, pictures, music, videos. Every single byte of data was being wiped off the computer as I looked on helplessly. The machine had been infected with a virus! And no; turning it off and back on again didn’t stop the process!
As I frantically tried to do all I could to stop the process and redeem the situation, I could hear the Holy Spirit gently repeat the instruction which I had earlier ignored “Back up your computer”.
Message received, but It was too late now. After failing to get the computer to reboot, I thought maybe if I removed the hard drive from the bay, I could get it to boot off an external bay. As I tried to remove the drive from its mounting, I had a searing pain go through my hand, as a sharp metal plate cut through it.
Undeterred, I rushed off to the local electronics shops with my son Jordan to get the stuff that I needed.
As I pulled up in the last store we visited, he realised that his brand new iPod that he had brought with him was no longer in his pocket. It had dropped off somewhere and gotten lost as we went from store to store.
I learnt a very painful and costly lesson on obedience that day.
If I had backed up my system as the Holy Spirit had prompted me to, I would not have lost 3 years of work on my computer. If I had backed up the system, I would not have been cut by the metal plate; If I had backed up the system, Jordan would not have lost his iPod the way he did.
Those three dreaded, damning words of regret — I Should Have…
If I only had obeyed the voice of God; the prompting of the Holy Spirit!
Very often as believers, we unfortunately get ourselves into situations that bring pain, losses and suffering to ourselves and to our loved ones, as a result of our choices and decisions; and as a consequence of our disobedience to the will of God.
Dear friend, I want you to please reconsider the actions you are about to take this week – the choices and decisions that you are about to make. Listen to what the bible says:
“There’s a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death”.Pro 14:12; Prov 16:25
Is there anything that God has been asking you to do or maybe even prompting you not to do? Please do not harden your heart in disobedience against the will of God for you.
Disobedience can be a very costly and painful experience for you to bear. Not just for yourself, but also for your children and even generations after them.
“26In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children. 27The fear of the LORD is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares.”(Prov 14:26-27)
I pray that God will strengthen you to do His perfect will for your life as you walk in obedience to His word in Jesus’s Name.
Shalom,
Pastor Wale Ola
LIFE APPLICATION
1. What is God saying to me in today’s message?
2. What was ministered to me in the bible verses that I read today?
3. What are the changes or adjustments I need to make in my life to align with the word of God?
4. What is my commitment to the word for today?
5. What practical steps can I take to benefit from the word I have read today?
This Week’s Memory Verse: Proverbs 14:12
PRAYER FOCUS Ask God to reveal to you, any areas of your life where you may be walking or
living in disobedience.
Acknowledge what God reveals to you, repent and ask God for forgiveness.
Pray to God to give you the grace to obey His instructions and commandments to you.
Ask Him to strengthen you not just to begin to do, but to completely obey Him.
Song for today: To Worship You I Live – Israel Houghton
