Week 45: November 2-8, 2025 -How Open Are You?

This week’s daily readings:

This week’s devotional:

How Open Are You?

by Rt. Rev. Brian Bethke

Scripture:

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

— Acts 8:26-31 (NLT)

Reflection:

How open are you to having your plans disrupted by God? When you hear the voice of God—the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit—do you listen? Do you obey what he says? Are you willing to be inconvenienced? Embarrassed? Looked at as “weird?” These are the questions I need to ask myself every day.

In 2018, I was invited to give an opening prayer along with some opening comments at a fundraiser for military veterans. The fundraiser was at a beautiful location, attended by the “who’s who” of the Greater Boston area. There was a news crew from Boston covering the event. It was a big deal. This was the first time I was given an opportunity to do something on this scale. All I could think about was how I was going to parlay my military background into preaching the good news of Jesus.

I practiced what I was going to say, ensuring I met the time requirement without losing the impact. I prayed for the message of Jesus to do a mighty work in the lives of those that would hear what I had to say. I visualized the affluent and influential crowd melting under this amazing news. I had “the” plan in my head! I was ready for a mass revival!

As I mingled with the well-dressed crowd, I was informed that I would be introduced in ten minutes. As I walked over to the restroom to give myself one last look, I felt something. It is hard to explain what exactly I felt. I felt a holy disruption, a distraction, an inner voice (not audible) that wanted me to go to the other side of the event hall where nobody was at.

I had MY plan! I tried to ignore the prompting, though I knew it was the Holy Spirit directing me. However, I HAD MY PLAN! It was a good plan. I paused, but the pull to go was too much. I thought, “If I hurry, I can check it out and get back to what I came here to do.”

As I moved to the other side of the event hall, I saw a well-dressed man sitting at a bar by himself. As I approached, he turned and greeted me, and we started a conversation. As we talked, something shifted in my heart. I realized that I was going to miss “my big moment” so that I could participate in a bigger moment. That evening, I talked with this man. I was able to hear his story, tell him my story, and intersect God’s story. A revival did take place that night. It just looked totally different than I thought it would!

So... How open are you to having your plans disrupted by God?

Prayer:

All-knowing God, you have given us a heart for mission, rooted in love, and desiring to bring others to faith in Jesus. No doubt, you have a plan for how best to use each of us for that purpose. Keep us obedient to your plan rather than our own. Holy Spirit, speak to us loud and clear! Make your will unmistakable to us. Save us from the fear of feeling embarrassed or inconvenienced. Help us each day to welcome disruption, being open to serving you without question, for your plan is clearly the best! We ask all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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