The journey God has me on… this stubborn, strong-willed, passionate chick; the journey is one of greater surrender to Him and His will for my life.
Lately, I have been asking God who my assignment is for any given day. ‘God, who am I supposed to bless, encourage, or be there for?’ When it is in my comfort zone and on my time schedule, it’s becomes so natural. Anyhow, I have this circle that I like to call my comfort zone, and God points to a place outside of the circle and says “Go!”
This past Saturday, I went for an early morning run with my homestead host ‘Father’ Steven, and a squad mate, Sharon. (My cycling friends would be surprised and impressed with how I’ve gotten up early for some of these runs. It’s really just a matter of convince and timing though.) So we go running at 5:30am (I had to talk Steven up from 4:30 and 5am to 5:30am haha).
As the run began, I noticed myself running a few steps in front of both Steven and Sharon. As I am running on the side of a road, I see a woman probably in her 60s walking along the road with a cane. Side notes, the public bus Is the most common form of transportation here, so it is not uncommon to see people walking on the side of the road. As I ran past her, I heard God ask me to stop and pray for her. I wrestled in my mind about if I was going to be obedient or not. Randomly praying for a stranger is something I have gotten better at doing since being on the Race. However, I am not as good or obedient at it as I’d like to be, and I think it is more of me just not wanting to be interrupted. I mean, I am basically living with 40 people right now and running/exercising is MY time and My space! But those are the genuine thoughts that went through my head, this was my time… so I kept running.
One these runs, I typically do a big loop around my running partners. As I looped back, I saw the woman with the cane again. Then I felt bad. I felt utterly convicted, thinking, ‘I have GOT to stop and ask to pray for her.’ Disobedience is a sin, and like I really would be sinning if I didn’t pray for her. Even though I disobeyed the first prompting, God always gives grace and second chances.
So I stop and ask if she speaks English. She said she did so I proceeded to ask why she had the cane. She said it was necessary because she had constant pain in both knees. Fully trusting in the fact that God is a healer, I asked to pray for her, she gladly obliged, I prayed for her, we hugged, and I was on my way.
It was an out and back run, and on the way back, I saw the woman on the other side of the road. From the other side of the road, she hollered/yelled to thank me so much for praying for her with a big smile on her face with praying hands.
I then had a moment with myself and gave myself a good ol’ fashioned ‘talkin’ to.’ My life is not all about me! Neither is yours!! Ahh, I get frustrated with myself sometimes. Get out of your own little world sometimes, Amanda. If I had not stopped and prayed for that woman, I would have robbed her of a blessing. Which is not cool. Plus, life is more fun blessing other people.
I want to challenge whomever is reading this to truly open your heart to being obedient. Be interruptible and spread the blessing the gift that the Lord has blessed you with. You will not regret it.
Blessings,
Amanda
