Miracle of the day: God is Pleased
FRIDAY:
It had been weeks since I had started fasting.
Not like, a real fast. But a fast from my two favourite things: chocolate and alcohol.
This time, God would know I was serious.
I hadn’t heard anything back from The Lord's end, and I was getting impatient.
My prayer request was simple. There was a man I was praying about, and I felt conflicted. I needed an answer from God.
Finally, I was reading my “bible a day” and the daily introduction gave me instructions. Was this an answer? I perked up.
It usually doesn’t give advice, but now it told me:“Take 2 or 3 major decisions about which you are currently straddling the fence. Write them in the margin. Then search the scriptures until God’s mind on the matter is made up to you.” It was speaking deeply to me. Have you ever had that happen?
“Well that’s great”, I thought, sarcastically. Search the scriptures? I knew the cookie cutter verses about being equally yoked and such. I had already been looking for answers in the scriptures. Nothing was clear to me. And that’s how I got in this mess to begin with.
I had looked. I still didn’t know what to do.
SATURDAY:
Saturday rolled around and nothing worth mentioning happened.
SUNDAY:
On Sunday, my friend invited me to join him at his church. All of the music was heavily African influenced, and it was just like walking into a Caribbean vacation. After a very poignant, high energy and very passionate service, the church announced, “If you would like to come meet the pastor, come up to the front after the service.”
I was feeling, let’s be honest, pretty crappy and tired that day. But the people I was with really wanted to go up to the front and meet the pastor.
I did not care to meet the pastor.
But my friend who I came with was all of a sudden missing, so I had very little choice but to stick with the group and go along with the flow. We went up to the line to meet the pastor.
After inching forward in the post-service line up, and watching other folks profusely thanking the pastor or earnestly sharing their troubles, we finally got to the front of the line. It was me, two other girls, and the church pastor.
One girl says, “It’s so great to meet you, I listen to you on the radio!”
The next girl, “Wow, what a pleasure! SO great to meet you.”
Me, in lousy mood: “Hey.”
“Hi!”, He says, “Thanks, can I pray for you ladies?”
The other girls were delighted.The pastor man starts praying, and right away (I mean, immediately) he begins praying, “Lord God, someone comes here today seeking you about a major decision in their life.”
What?
I’m listening, God.
“The path is brightly lit, but it’s not clear. Lord God, this person has endured much pain in relationships up to this point.” And on and on he goes about this one particular person.
Well. He goes on for about 4 minutes. Like... a reallllllllly long time. When he finally finished his prayer, I was thinking, “Could this have been about me? I don’t think either of these two look too conflicted like they are seeking God about a major decision.”
I looked at the other girls and they were beaming at the pastor, and clearly delighted. Nobody was looking at me.
That was not the answer I had been fasting for.
I would not accept it. It was too vague. It wasn’t direct. I did not put off chocolate and alcohol for anything vague. God isn't vague.
The pastor shakes the first girl’s hand, then the second girl’s hand, then goes to shake mine.
He stops mid-shake, looks at me intently in the eyes, still holding my hand and says, “What is your name?”
“Stephanie.”
“Stephanie, you have a very innocent spirit.” (Enter me starting to bawl my eyes out.) He continues, “God hears you and is pleased with you seeking Him about a relationship.”
... God was pleased with me.
God answered me. This was incredible.
The pastor continued on, and every word cut into my heart with overflowing love from God. God was listening. God was happy with me. And then the pastor prayed for me again, specifically for guidance.
The rest of what was said was a bit of a whirlwind, but I left feeling so filled with joy and hope that God was listening to my prayers and cries...
Until I was out at Cactus Club eating some lunch with my church companions and it dawned on me: He never told me what to DO!
Well, needless to say, I stayed on my fast because God hadn’t told me what to do.
But this time I knew He was hearing my petitions.
MONDAY:
The next day I went to Bible Study. Midway through going over some questions, a girlfriend (who knew NOTHING about my fast or what had happened to me over the weekend) silently slid me 3 large pieces of paper with writing all over them. What was on that paper?
I was amazed.
Verse after verse that was related to my particular issue that I was supposed to be searching the scriptures about! She had searched the scriptures for me all about how to find the right spouse! And even funnier, she found verses I would never have thought to look at. It was... incredible.
Things about how a family life should be.
And qualities to look for in a God fearing husband.
“Build your house upon the rock.”
“Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in his life - peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
“Is he leading you toward your first love, Jesus?”
(Three PAGES worth.)
Wow. My heart was laughing that day. I was so thankful that God had used all of these interesting situations to speak to me. Right to my heart.
So. Long story short, I got my answers, and I was bolstered with hope. My heart was confident in a decision, and equipped with a miracle, I was able to continue in my life knowing what God wanted for me.
And then I did the wrong thing. A couple of weeks later, when the gentleman expressed a desire to learn about Jesus, I didn't listen to the wisdom I received. I followed my heart and dated him anyway, and it was an incredibly painful experience.
Don't do what I did.
Listen to God when He gives you wisdom...
“Build your house upon the rock.”
“Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in his life - peace, joy, love, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
“Is he leading you toward your first love, Jesus?”
Anyway!
Never underestimate how much God wants to guide you. To speak to you. He really loves us and is so happy to help us and do wonderful things for us!
May you be inspired by this everyday miracle.
Ask and you shall receive.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
- Jesus
Comments