It has been a wonder to me that these disciples that Jesus called, could immediately leave all that they were doing and just follow him. They had families and jobs, and right then and there, Jesus called them, and they just left.

It’s happened to me once, that I can really recall in detail, where I responded immediately to a clear call from the Holy Spirit. It was 2020, a few months after I had visited, with my kids, my aunt Diane and uncle Andy for a Knoxville, Tennessee Thanksgiving.

At the beginning of 2020, I was struggling to complete a Bible study on Jude that I had purchased. I’m the type that likes to finish what I start, no matter how much I’m struggling with it or not feeling it. I usually do start what I finish eventually. But, at the beginning of 2020, I really wanted to not finish this Bible study and I wanted to go in a different direction and study in depth, the Gospels. At the same time, I had this feeling in my spirit, that I really wanted my aunt Diane to mentor me in some capacity.

A few weeks into the new year, I received a text from her, asking me if I wanted to be a part of a Bible-reading, accountability email circle, with her and a few other young ladies that the Holy Spirit had laid on her heart. Immediately, I responded with a yes because the Holy Spirit had already laid it in my heart. Her idea was that she would send out an email every once in a while to encourage us to let us know how Bible study was going with her, and to give us thoughts that may help us along in our own personal Bible studies.

I’m so grateful that my aunt reached out and that I was able to immediately respond to the call. Even though we haven’t had an email circle in a while, my own personal Bible study has continued until now. This, I believe, is testament to the power of God and what can be the results of when God directly reaches out to us and we are prepared to positively respond.

Being able to respond to Christ’s call, immediately, I think takes some preparation before the call. I suspect the disciples were able to respond immediately because they had already been in prayer and their spirits were already primed and ready to go. And I think this is what makes it easier for us to respond to God when he calls. When we have been in prayer and have been seeking him and we are full of the Holy Spirit and his word, it is much easier for us to jump up when he comes.