I woke up early that morning, but instead of praying or spending time with the Lord, I wasted a couple of hours. Only then did I realize I wasn't honoring His Sabbath.
I got ready for church, but my heart wasn't in it. I was simply going through the motions. I knew I was being a lukewarm Christian. I loved God, and I knew He was working in my life, but I wasn't seeking Him.
Even my morning routine was different. I skipped my usual breakfast, woke my wife and youngest son, and hurried everyone along so I could continue my day. That word—my—would soon be corrected.
We arrived in time for Sabbath School. Once again, I hadn't studied the lesson and found myself trying to catch up as we went. The memory verse was Isaiah 50:4:
"The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned."
Yet I still wasn't awake. I heard the lesson, but I wasn't truly listening.
When the worship service began, something unexpected happened. My third son, Nathaniel, walked into church. That alone surprised me, since he'd only attended a handful of times in the last few years. A little later, my fourth son, Gabriel, arrived as well. I was glad to see them, but I still didn't recognize what God was doing.
As the pastor preached about the captive servant girl who told Naaman's household about the prophet of God, I thought about my oldest son. For years I had prayed for him, but recently I had stopped. I had convinced myself God wasn't going to answer that prayer.
Then there was a small commotion behind us. My wife tried to get my attention. When I finally turned around, I was stunned.
Standing there was my oldest son.
The son I never expected to voluntarily walk into God's house.
In that moment, I felt the presence of God. The lesson finally came alive. The Lord spoke to my heart:
"This is My day. This is My gift to you."
I was completely humbled. God showed me how wrong I had been—not only for giving up in prayer, but for treating the Sabbath as if it belonged to me instead of Him.
Some might call it coincidence, but I cannot.
My sons rarely come to church together. They love one another, but they seldom choose the same place at the same time. Yet on this one Sabbath, all three of my adult sons came independently.
My oldest has often rejected God. Nathaniel rarely attends because of work and other circumstances. Gabriel comes more regularly, but even his attendance isn't guaranteed.
Only about two weeks earlier I had stopped praying for my oldest son because I believed nothing would change.
Then, on the very Sabbath when God confronted my lukewarm heart through His Word, all three of my sons walked into church.
Praise God—this was no coincidence.
This was a loving Father waking up one of His wayward children and reminding me that His grace, His timing, and His mercy are greater than my doubt.
And this is not the first time He has shown me such patience, love, and undeserved kindness.
Praise be to God.
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Shared by Braselton House of Prayer
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