Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
When a person troubles us and causes us to dread, often we will try to explain away our "feelings" and think something is wrong with us, when often it is the Holy Spirit in us who is giving us that dread or negative feeling to alert us to show us there is a problem in the way we are going.
Pam Padgett told me this story:
About five years ago I had a new furnace installed in my home by a small heating and cooling company which my neighbor had used for many years. The son of the man who owned the business did the actual installation. Brandon was pleasant and easy to work with. Since that time I had used this same company to service the furnace each fall. Brandon came the first couple years, but then other technicians came. Also, after the first couple years the wife of the man who owns the business no longer answered the telephone when I called.
This year a woman from that company called and left a telephone message saying she was calling to schedule a time for this year's service. As soon as I heard her voice, I felt a little "down". And I found myself dreading calling her back to schedule this service.
At first I tried to explain this dread away ... "I'm making too big of an issue out of this ... Its just a simple matter to schedule getting the furnace serviced ... I'm being silly ... If I don't use this company, I'll need to find another furnace company and I have no idea who to use ... Finding another company will take a lot of time and then they may not work out either ..."
But that I was dreading calling this company kept being brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit, and finally I stopped and talked over this matter with God.
While talking with God about this matter, I was reminded of very specific things regarding this company that have bothered me "just a little" over the past three years or so. Here are some of the things I was reminded of:
- The woman who left the telephone message has a very "pushy" attitude and in the past I've been glad when a call with her is over.
- The technician who has come the past two years is a very negative person. I've been glad when he finishes and leaves, and also I feel a little "down".
- When doing remodeling at my home last year I called to ask if they would come look at a cold air return that needed to be moved and give me an estimate of cost and time for moving it. I was told it would be several weeks before they could even come give an estimate and that it would cost me $100 to get the estimate. What a shock!
- I have been encouraged by this company several times to pay a year in advance for service so I will get priority if something should happen to the furnace. I have chosen to not pay in advance, but each time this comes up, it opens the door for fear in me ... fear that something will go wrong with the furnace and when it does, I won't be able to get it repaired in a timely manner unless I pay a year in advance.
As I was reminded of these things, it became very clear that using this company was not the way for me to go. I needed to make a change.
I asked God what company I should use and was reminded of a web site where people in my neighborhood give recommendations of companies they have used. One company that was recommended stood out to me.
When I called that company, the woman who answered the telephone was friendly and helpful. She said they could service the furnace two days later between 12:30 and 2:30, if that would work for me. I was very happy to get on their schedule so soon. Also, the service cost less than the company I had been using.
Another pleasant surprise was that at 12:30 on the day of service, I received a call saying it would probably be closer to 1:30 by the time the technician arrived. The woman who called said she wanted to let me know in case I had some short errands I needed to take care of. I have never had a company do this before.
The technician arrived at 1:15 and went right to work. He had a pleasant personality, and I had no problem with him being here.
After he left, I was so happy to have made this change and grateful to God for leading me to do this.
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(Comments by Joan Boney ... When we dread something, there is likely something wrong. When we feel negative, it is often the Holy Spirit in us showing us something is wrong in the way we are going. Don't try to fight this or explain it way. Pray. If God wants to change your heart, HE will. But if you still have trouble with the issue, know you need to go another way.)
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
When God is leading us we go out with joy and peace.
Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace:
If you have dread, something is wrong.
Pray and be willing for God to lead you to go in another direction.
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