“I only have one question for you: Did God ask you to go for this conference?”

I felt my heart drop when she said that. I am someone who has always shared about the importance of saying yes to what God wants us to do and not just follow the crowd. So when she asked me that question, I saw that my heart knew the answer – and it wasn’t a yes.

Prior to that conversation, I had been jumping with excitement as the conference would be held overseas at one of my favourite places in the world. I would be able to meet up with a few good friends and attend a conference which was bringing in two widely acclaimed speakers. Those reasons had been good enough for me!

Besides, for reasons I prefer not to reveal … I had a personal agenda for the trip. My motives were impure, so I did not consult God. 

There’s a chapter in the book of Joshua that tells of how the Israelites fell into deception when they acted without consulting the LORD.

“When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”” (Joshua 9:3-6)

Joshua and Israel’s leaders did not consult the LORD. Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these crafty people actually lived nearby!

As a result of Israel’s failure to seek God’s counsel, they were deceived into making a treaty with the Gibeonites. They had to keep a bad oath. The people grumbled against their leaders, but Israel honoured her oath and the Gibeonites were spared their lives. 

What I see is that when we fail to seek God’s counsel, we are prone to falling into deception. When we fail to listen, we have to live with the consequences.

But God was so merciful to me. Though I didn’t seek His counsel, He still thwarted all my attempts to register for the conference.

At first, I could not make my online payment and thought it was because of my bank account. I tried paying again and it still failed. I asked a friend if I could use her account – she too wasn’t able to help me make the payment. I remained dull in my spirit, still failing to go back to God and check with Him again.

I was relentless and actually asked an overseas friend for help. Behold, the payment went through via telegraphic transfer.

When we fail to seek God’s counsel, we are prone to falling into deception.

That was when the phone call from my friend came. She was prompted to talk to me about the conference because I had previously invited her to go. So when she questioned me, I knew that God had not asked me to go for the conference.

No matter how good the speakers might be or how good my reasons are, if the King didn’t say go – His subject should not go.

I repented immediately and texted the organiser to say I would be pulling out from the conference. I tried to ask for reimbursement of my registration fee. They gave me a flat no.

Interestingly, later I found out that my telegraphic transfer had been rejected.

I forfeited two Singapore dollars due to the exchange rate but saved more than a hundred dollars! The LORD’s mercies touched my heart so.

God has perfect reasons for what He does even when we may not understand what’s going on right now. He is both powerful and loving, protective and kind. We can trust and obey Him because He sees, knows and has the best for us.

Do we know what our King is saying today? 

Let us be quick to hear and obey Him.