Acts 9:10-14 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

In Saul’s present condition of turmoil, he reverts back to what he knows best. Saul prays. The Lord’s first answer is in the familiar. He gave a man who believes in visions, a vision. The Lord gave Saul what he would receive because Saul believed in visions. In that vision He showed Saul two things that were not part of his belief system.

The first was that the Lord would use an ordinary man of no reputation to perform a miracle. Saul knew nothing of the anointing of the Holy Spirit among the common people. His experience said only those who dedicated their lives from an early age could be found worthy by proven performance. Why would the Lord anoint a commoner? This Saul would have to discover for himself.

Secondly, this man Ananias would have been one of the people Saul sought to kill. How is it that the Lord should choose a potential victim to be his healer? Paul was about to receive mercy without reason, forgiveness without cause, and see faith that ruled over fear.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Continuing along the same lines as yesterday, in Emotional Turmoil I said perhaps I should have asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. I knew that. Here is my object lesson about how to react as Saul, soon to be Paul, reacted when blinded by the Lord. He asked what would you have me do, and that should have been my response also.

Emotional turmoil has a way of causing a great distraction in the moment. It is not that we have forgotten our lessons, for today I do remember, it is the distraction that had my focus. That is a weapon of the enemy.

My Vietnam experience taught me the lessons of distraction. Often times the enemy would place an object up high that would catch your eye, the lesson was, stop, look down, that is where the danger lies.

The enemy knows that strong emotions can be used against us as a distraction. My experience is that with Satan those distractions come after you have obeyed God in a matter. Satan is not part of our conversations with God. He has no part in obedience of faith. Stan will see the results and often attack us where we are the most vulnerable in order to distract us away from any further obedience of faith.

Now comes the secondary lesson today. The Lord blinded Saul and could have very well restored his sight right then. Rather than that, the Lord told him to continue into the city, without giving Saul any directions as to where to go. He just said go.

Tomorrow I will finish this second lesson.