Sunday Morning Discussion

So, God and I had an interesting conversation during the introduction to my pastor’s very good, but completely unrelated message. Here’s how it went.
Lisa: Oh, man! That woman is here again. She’s weird. I don’t think she’s quite there mentally. I hate talking to her. I know she’s lonely and she needs You and she needs love, but I don’t want to!
God: Lisa, you absolutely may not pick and choose who you are going to love.
Lisa (whining): But I don’t like it! It’s uncomfortable, it’s difficult, it’s not fun!
God: You know that’s not true. Remember how awesome Monday was when you focused on serving? When have you felt happiest, most content, most filled to overflowing with joy? That’s right. It is when you are least concerned with getting these very things for yourself, least concerned with yourself at all, when you are sacrificing your comfort for that of others and your interests for Mine. Is it enough that I asked you to do it?
And Lisa didn’t say anything. She just tried her hardest to obey. And He was right.
Then, when I got home, I was reading a good book by Eric Ludy and I read, “From the outside, it would appear that a life of sacrifice is a life of discomfort and pain. But actually, a life of sacrifice is a life of matchless satisfaction and exhilaration. To go where our King goes and do what our King is doing is to forge a deep and eternal friendship with the God of the universe.”
Lately, God has been teaching me a lot about how my life cannot be lived for my enjoyment, but must be consumed in loving Him and loving others, which basically equals service. And every time I obey and cheerfully surrender my agenda and my comfort, it’s absolutely amazing. However, as my shameful part in the above conversation shows, my memory is short. But He is faithful!
Father, thanks for not giving up on me!