I am taking part in a 21 Day Fast, Read, Pray plan on the Book of Acts on the You

Version Bible App. On Day 7, we covered Chapter 9. Believers had been

persecuted. Stephen, a devout believer had been stoned to death and Saul, who

stood by watching, was now determined to destroy the church. He was going to

Damascus to bring back every Christ follower he could find. His plan was to arrest

them and bring them back to Jerusalem - in chains and throw them into prison.

And so, he went. As Saul was approaching Damascus, he was blinded by a bright

light from heaven. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul!

Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Saul had a one-on-one encounter with this

Jesus that so many believers were following. Saul responded, “Who are you lord?”

The voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and

go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Meanwhile, there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to

Ananias and said, “Go over to Straight Street to the house of Judas. When you

get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right

now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying

hands on him so he can see again.” Acts 9:11-12

In verses 13 and 14, Ananias began his response to the Lord by saying,

“But Lord …”

Ananias went on to explain to God (as if God didn’t know) that he was being asked

to go pray for the guy that had been granted authority to kill anyone who called on

the name of the Lord. I am sure Ananias was concerned.

I am so thankful God understands our hearts and doesn’t strike us down when we

question Him. The Lord then gave Ananias insight into His plan for Saul. The Lord

wanted to use Saul – a chosen instrument to take the gospel message to the

Gentiles.

Then we read in verse 17, “So Ananias went and found Saul…”

There is a scripture that people use a lot that says, “I know the plans I have for

you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give

you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

I am certain that Ananias loved the Lord. But his response was so much like I

would have answered. “But Lord!?” But Lord why would you ask me to go to him?

Why is this part of my plan? I trust you and want to obey you but why would you

want me to go and pray for him?

It is easy to quote the scriptures from the Bible and say we trust Him until He

asks us to do something that we don’t understand or takes us out of our comfort

zone. Yet, trusting in God, believing that He writes our story and then choosing to

walk by faith and not sight, is part of what we as believers are called to do.

We are called to follow Him – even when we don’t understand. Even when we don’t

know if this could be our last act of obedience. Even when we cannot possibly

imagine how God would take this small piece of the puzzle and fit it into the grand

scheme of His design.

But He does. And just like Ananias, when we choose to respond in obedience not

knowing what the outcome may be, our submission expresses our depth of love,

gratitude, and our worship to our Lord.