Have you ever been in that situation where a lamp gets bumped “just enough” and you watch it all happen in slow motion?

The bump.

The waver.

The tip to one side.

Your feet frozen.

Your eyes lock.

Your jaw drops.

Your hands reach out.

Your feet don’t move.

The lamp falls in super slow motion…

It crashes to the floor and you wonder why you didn’t jump the 5 feet to stop it.

We’ve see it happen in movies or we’ve actually had it happen to us.

It’s happened to me a few times. And to the same lamp. I always wonder why I didn’t do something. What made me freeze? Did I not have time? There’s something about lamps just seem to fall more slowly that other things. They waver, they seem to give us a moment to ponder and then act or freeze. Lamps are funny that way. Why didn’t I save it? Was I worried that I’d run into something else? Did my brain just short-circuit and couldn’t comprehend the situation quickly enough?

I really have no idea why I freeze, but the situation made me think about praying. Yep, praying.

There is a person in front of you, falling. Ok, not literally falling. If they were, maybe you’d actually grab them, instead of a lamp. Anyway, the point is, they’re struggling and they’ve just opened up about a worry or problem and you can see their emotions teetering. What do you do? Many times in my life, I would think, “I should pray for them!” Then I say, “I’ll be praying for you.” It’s kind of like saying, “I see you’re falling down, I’m going to watch now and then you can go over there and crash. I’ll think about your crash and how you feel when I’m alone and by myself. Actually, I probably won’t do that.”

Sorry that sounds really blunt, but I realized that I rarely pray for someone (later on) who I told I would “pray for.” I don’t write it down and mental notes don’t work as well as we all think they do. Especially if the mental note doesn’t directly affect us.

I just realized in the past couple years that when I feel the Holy Spirit urging me to jump and pray for someone, that I should do it. Do something. Right now. God is moving me and why not go for it? I may not always remember to jump for the lamp. I’ll probably keep freezing on that one, but I want to keep being the courageous follower of Jesus who will bring my friend’s needs to the Lord right away. With them. On behalf of them. Stepping out in faith and trust that God hears us and loves us deeply.

He made us to be His hands and feet. Let’s not freeze. Jesus would do something. Let’s follow Him.

1 John 3:18 – Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

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Do Something by Matthew West

VERSE 1
I woke up this morning saw a world full of trouble now
Thought how’d we ever get do far down snd How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven I thought God why don’t You do something

VERSE 2
Well I just couldn’t bear the thought of people living in poverty
And children sold into slavery the thought disgusted me
So I shook my fist at Heaven said God why don’t You do something

PRE-CHORUS
And He said I did I created you

CHORUS
If not us then who if not me and you
Right now it’s time for us to do something
If not now then when will we see an end
To all this pain it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

VERSE 3
I’m so tired of talking about how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright somebody else will do something

VERSE 4
Well I don’t know about you but I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says I’m gonna do something

BRIDGE
We are the salt of the earth we are a city on a hill (shine shine shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world by standing still
No we won’t stand still No we won’t stand still No we won’t stand still

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we know that we have been saved by the death and life of Jesus Christ. It’s through Him that we are forgiven and have life with You forever in Heaven. We thank you and rejoice in that! We also know that you created us to do good works. To encourage. To give and to pray for those in need. We are called to live our faith boldly and courageously. Raise within us the confidence, found in You, to pray when You lead us. To do something for You. Be our hands and feet. Amen.