Three Days.

After Paul has his vision of the Lord and is given instructions, he is led by his companions to where he needed to be. Blind, he spends all his time in prayer, waiting on the Lord.

I know I've been asking you to imagine a lot of things these last few days, and that's not going to stop. We need to imagine the situation, we need to put ourselves into the shoes of those who really experienced these things. We are given examples, patterns, we need to take them to heart, not read them for our entertainment. Let's take a few moment to think about what Paul did as he waited on the Lord. Three days he was without sight. Three days he had nothing to eat or drink. Three days he prayed.

Recently someone I know had to fast for a medical procedure, but the fast was for only liquids for a day and a half, not even a full fast of nothing at all. This person found it incredibly hard not to eat solid food. It makes you realize just how important it is to our wellbeing- emotionally and otherwise to eat.  I know there are times I don't eat according to my usual schedule and unless it is caused by emergency situations that have adrenaline and shock taking over, I feel light headed, sometimes sick to my stomach etc because I missed a single meal! Some people are used to missing meals, others are experienced in fasting as a way of life. Paul's extreme fasting was for spiritual reasons, even so, it couldn't have been easy- not that Paul was even thinking about anything being easy. Paul was consumed in prayer! Paul wanted NOTHING but the love of GOD! Paul wanted NOTHING but the forgiveness the love of God would give him. Every single action he'd taken against the Savior, every thought he'd had filled with hatred against GOD'S SON, all of this went through Paul's head, it had to. He wasn't there for three days with a blank mind, he wasn't unconscious. He may have slept, but he mostly did a lot of praying.

The LORD told Ananias to go to Paul and said these words-  'Behold he prayeth.'

Fasting and prayer. Three days blind, three days fasting, three days of prayer. Paul was seeking God. I won't say Paul never prayed like he was praying before- remember Paul was a very devout man of God, he'd been raised that way. Paul was an upstanding man of God, seeking God's truth, God's way. He only ever wanted to do what God would have him do. When he did NOT believe in Christ it was for a reason, and in retrospect we can see the reason, or at least in part. The Lord's longsuffering was revealed in Paul's conversion.  He may NOT have seen the Lord for who He was when He walked the earth for three years in His ministry, but He did see the Lord after he'd done so much persecuting of Him. Paul saw the truth, he was convicted of the truth in his heart and with a heart filled with remorse, with repentance, with the need for forgiveness he sought the Lord's Salvation!

More tomorrow, by the GRACE of our LORD!

All in the Love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!!!!!!!

Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 

Act 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 

Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 

Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 

Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 

Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 

Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.