So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  – Isaiah 41:10

I know Isaiah was frying much bigger fish than this little story I’m about to tell, but I love how God teaches us great truths in the smallest of details.

I have loved my opportunities to play my acoustic and sing at the various places that has allowed me to do so.  Not only has it allowed me to make a little bit more money, but it has also afforded me an amazing opportunity to meet people that I would have never met otherwise. 

Sometimes I’ll play somewhere that I immediately recognize as having maybe “a rougher crowd.”  I don’t mean anything bad by this, I mainly mean that if a fight broke out . . . I’d probably get pummeled. 

At any rate, I have always made a conscious effort to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to prompt me at the right time to play a Christian song or a praise and worship song.  Sometimes He does . . . sometimes He doesn’t.  On this one particular night, at this one particular place, I just went ahead and assumed that God was not going to prompt me.  I’ve always asked before and kept my spirit open, but on this night . . . I didn’t. 

I didn’t think I knew anyone in the crowd.  I certainly wasn’t thinking anyone had seen me play before.  At the end of the night, someone said, “I love hearing you play.  I really love when you play a song for the Lord.  Did you play one for Him?”

Me and my assumptions.

Lord, You are the best teacher in the world.  Of course You are!  Thank You for the lessons you teach me that I’ll never forget.  I don’t want to ever be afraid to do something for You.  I don’t ever want to be presumptuous.  All too often, I simply do what I think is right and safe instead of asking You what to do that will often be different and adventurous.  I love the way You do things in ways that leave no doubt that it was You and You alone.  You deserve all praise, all honor, and all glory!  Help me constantly be sensitive to the Holy Spirit at work in me.  There is no reason to ever be afraid.  Amen.