Have you thought this too?

“I don’t think she really means what she’s singing.”

Those were my human thoughts when I was invited to preach at a church I wasn’t familiar with. The worship team had started with the first song, and I honestly thought, “The way the leader is presenting herself on stage, I just don’t buy it…”

I think you can relate to these judgmental thoughts, as we all have moments like that...

As soon as I returned to my hotel room that evening after speaking, I received an Instagram message that said: “Hello Déborah. When you started today, I thought to myself: ‘She’s just putting on a show…’”

Haha. 😂 Isn’t it funny that we judge others and they judge us? We really all do this! We judge right away, while God loves right away.

The message continued with the words: “...but immediately the Holy Spirit revealed to me that my thoughts were wrong, and in the end, I was completely touched by your sermon!”

And I, too, was VERY TOUCHED by the worship that evening, and marveled at how the leader had allowed the Holy Spirit to guide her. Every single song fit perfectly with my message!

The woman who couldn’t quite place my style at first would have missed God’s voice if she had stayed in judgment. And I would have missed God’s presence if I had stayed in my judgmental and human thoughts as well.

It’s not for nothing that it says: “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” (John 7:24 NIV) 

Oh, let’s learn to love right away, because that will shift our focus away from people—and toward God!

Because only we humans judge right away—while God loves right away. ❤️ And how many people this undeserved grace has been a blessing to, I don’t need to explain, because you’ve surely experienced it yourself...

You are a miracle!