Nudged

Have you ever had one? You should. They are often hard to receive, but they are a sign that you seek to walk in God's will. Some Christians call them a ‘burden,’ a holy discontent, or a "prompting.” Whatever we call them, they are moments when we hear God, though rarely audibly, and we know that we have to do something. Scripture is full of people who became heroes in the faith because they responded to “the nudge.”

I want to share a part of the process that God has been working in me as I have experienced this “Holy Nudge.” I do so in the hope that Jesus would nudge you as well because if we all get "nudged," we’ll all start making more of a difference! And if we all start to make a difference, we can make the world a better place. Perhaps these points will help you receive and identify your "nudge."

1) Ask God to Nudge You. Around the New Year, I asked God to speak more clearly. I wanted to hear from him more to become more faithful. Recently, I have heard more clearly from him… the problem is figuring out how to respond appropriately! Just after a mission meeting, where we had been praying for God to lead us forward in our mission, I was initially nudged to watch the segment. It’s too important a question not to ask - do you want God to use you? (If not, quit reading this blog and start reading your bible!)

2) Expose yourself to places of pain. Have you noticed how we tend to isolate ourselves from things that will disturb us? I don’t watch horror movies for this very reason. Don’t insulate yourself from the pain of others and the world. Often, through exposure to despair, we experience “the nudge.” Take some time this week to read, listen, or watch something that makes you a little uncomfortable.

3) Embrace the pain. While my philosophy is generally “No Pain, No Pain,” there can be some gain when embracing the right pain. Experiencing pain is a great motivator to do something about pain!

4) Let the nudge become a push. …and let it push you towards activism. The mantra is true for many social ills in our society – “If not now, when? If not us, who?”. This week, I have been challenged to be an activist who invests more time than money, thinks long term rather than short term, and thinks small scale rather than large scale. This thinking is often counter-intuitive, but these kinds of activists will ultimately make a more significant impact.

5) Respond, don’t just react. If God is calling us to something, it is worthy of a measured, sustainable, strategic response rather than an immediate knee-jerk reaction.

6) Nudges rarely happen alone…. We must communicate clearly with people about resources - everyone has some to give to a worthy cause. Having the right connections is often a key to effective communication, but even if you don’t have connections – communicate anyway.

7) Nudges have knock-on effects! My nudge, while personal, is changing others as it works itself out publically. Visionaries are emerging, hearts are being broken, and people are being stirred to action. A simple nudge can quickly create a vast avalanche!

Have you been “nudged” yet? The world will start to change when you are...