Many of this blog’s readers only know me by my weekly blog postings, from hearing me speak at our conferences, and/or hearing me preach in a local church service. But there’s another side of me that you don’t know about. I love practical jokes. Here’s a great example.
Several years ago, while we were still living in South Florida, Vickie flew to Texas for a few days to attend a family member’s wedding. My parents picked Vickie up at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport and then took her to their home for a nice quiet night before the wedding festivities kicked in the next morning. My being in Florida and Vickie in Texas provided the perfect set-up for a great practical joke. Here’s what happened.
Because Florida is in the Eastern Time Zone and Texas is in the Central Time Zone, people along the east coast watch many television programs an hour before people in the Central Time Zone. Since Wheel of Fortune is broadcast in Florida each evening before its Texas telecast, I watched the program, wrote down the answers, and then called Vickie to share them. (You can already see where this is going, can’t you?) With the knowledge of all of the answers, Vickie began watching the program with my parents. On the first puzzle, Vickie waited for a couple of the letters to be revealed and then told Dad and Mom the puzzle’s answer. This happened puzzle after puzzle. And finally, when Pat Sajak and Vanna White showed the prize puzzle at the end, before a single letter was revealed, Vickie told my parents the answer. They were blown away. They insisted that Vickie needed to go to Hollywood, compete on Wheel of Fortune, and win us some significant money and prizes. Of course, Vickie told them what was going on, and I got a phone call from my parents that I’ll never forget. It was one great practical joke.
Here’s an incredible revelation. What Vickie was currently viewing on Wheel of Fortune was the same thing I had already seen. In other words, her present was in my past. Did you know that this is exactly how the Holy Spirit looks at your today? What you are seeing at the present is what He has already seen. How do I know that?
“He will show you things to come.”
John 16:13
In every area (did you catch the EVERY?) of your life, the Holy Spirit has already seen your present and knows what is to come. In military language, the Holy Spirit has flown a reconnaissance mission. He is fully aware of exactly what is going on right this very minute and what lies ahead for you. Not only has He seen, but John 16:13 tells us that He wants to show it to us and talk to us about it.
If this doesn’t make you want to become more and more dependent upon the Holy Spirit, nothing will. There is so much more that I can say about this, but it isn’t needed. Increase your time of dialoguing (not monologuing) with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reveal what He sees and knows about you personally, your family, and your ministry. I guarantee that you will be amazed at what He will show you.
