Several weeks ago, i was listening to a podcast, when a channel came up in my feed that I’d never seen nor listened to before. To this day, I could not say the name of the man narrating. But I was loading hay and didn’t want to make a grab for my phone, so I let it play.

The podcaster was describing the first 24 hours after the siege of Sarajevo. A city that had a short time prior hosted the Olympics, had been a hub of cafes and boutiques, and boasted of a large youth and artist population, in a matter of hours dissolved into a war zone.

What was one of the most valuable possessions in this world turned upside down?

The podcaster spoke at length about the conditions of the city, about the gangs that quickly formed, about freezing temperatures and starvation and lack of sanitation.

Finally, he came to the point. One of the most valuable possessions to have in this besieged scenario was:

A lighter.

He expounded on the supreme importance and versatility of the lighter. AS I listened, I mused that it would be good to get a few. After all, cooler temps lay ahead, and we regularly use our woodstove and fire pits.

But lighters can be problematic, and I reflected that matches might be a better bet. I was heading to the grocery store that afternoon. I figured I might as well grab some matches. Yes, why not?

An hour later I was on my way to the grocery store with a quick stop first at my parent’s’ place. My mom had a stock pot she wanted to give me

“Here you go,” she said, bringing it out. ” Oh, and there’s something else.”

She drew the lid off the pot. Inside was a box labeled “herbal tea.”

” But it isn’t tea,” she explained as I gazed at it.

Opening the box, I saw that it was stuffed to the brim –  with matches

The word confirmed

An odd coincidence?  Or was the Lord trying to get my attention?

“By the testimony of two or three witnesses a matter is confirmed” wrote Paul to the Corinthians. I asked the Lord to confirm His word and give me something more specific if there was a message.

A few weeks later, without my seeking it out, and through an entirely different source, the Lord spoke again.

“Do not delay.”

This time, the message came through a fellow Christian. I listened to her share her heart over the course of an hour. Sifting through all that she said, my takeaway was this: “Do not put off what the Lord has laid on your heart to do.”

Several weeks have passed since these occurrences. I have been pondering and praying over them. I believe the broader message is meant for more than just myself.

And while the message is for many, the meaning might look different for each person.

The urgency is for obedience to whatever He has been saying.

Do not delay. The window might close and inaction will result in regret.

“Whatever He says unto you, do it.” (John 2:5).