If there’s one thing that I’ve learned this year that will dominate the way I live my life until the day I die, it will be this one thing. God speaks to us. Now I don’t mean that low pitch, talking to a foreigner, long pauses between perfectly enunciated words, God voice that the movies and tv shows like to lead on about. I mean the voice that the Bible tells us about. I’m talking about the still small voice of The Lord (1 Kings 19:12 KJV) that physically present in this world, and in this struggle we can hear. It’s not loud, and it’s not low pitch. It is however, supernatural, and I have heard it almost daily since I received Christ into my heart two and a half years ago. On the WR we rely heavily on the Lord’s voice. We look for direction in ministry, whether it be what our English lesson should be over, or who God wants to heal today, or what can I tell my teammate so he or she can grow to look more like Jesus. At training camp I was introduced to a simple discipline they called listening prayer. “What is this hocus pocus?” I thought. I had never heard of such a thing. It was simple. Be still, ask The Lord a question, and wait until you hear an answer.
Now I had done something like this before, but I didn’t think it could happen all the time, yet I don’t know why I thought that. It was about a week after I accepted Christ at age 23 and I was heading to church for the first time since I was about 12, with my Mamaw. Right before church I went into a bedroom alone and asked God a question. I asked Him what the next step was in our personal relationship, how do I get closer to Him? I wasn’t even finished with this prayer when I heard the word baptism in a still small though that wasn’t my own. I tried to continue praying but I literally couldn’t think anymore because all I kept hearing running through my mind was baptism, baptism, baptism baptism. Finally I got the point. Baptism, He wanted me to publicly profess my new found faith in Him. So I get up and walk right into the kitchen to hear these exact words come out of my Mamaw’s mouth; “I think you should get baptized.” At that point all I could do was chuckle as I found out The Lord has a sense of humor and wanted to be sure I knew what He thought I should do. He even let my Mamaw in on the fun.
Now this listening prayer that we did at training camp pertained to what God had in store for us this next year. Sounded like prophesy to me. “God doesn’t do that anymore” I thought. As I began to ask The Lord what He had in store for me this next year I basically kept getting interrupted with words. Just simple words. Things like self- control, orphans, change, healing. After being interrupted in my own prayer with this still small voice I literally could not keep praying until I wrote the word down on paper. I tried, yet all that I could muster, even in silent prayer was “Lord uh, Father um, uhh” then I wrote the word down and wouldn’t ya know it I could speak to Him again. He wants us to know He speaks to us. He wants to reassure us that it is His voice not our own thoughts. Now, 12 months after that day and 10 month into my race, I am here to tell you that every word He had me write down has held substantial significants in the life I have lived this year. I have learned that not only does The Lord speak to His children through The Bible, song, or people, but He speaks directly to us, and He will always confirm that you have heard correctly as you step out and acknowledge His whispers.
This year I have heard simple yes and no from God, people’s names, places, scripture, promptings to pray for someone or something, words of encouragement for myself and for others. I have learned that His voice always leads to great things. I have found people with those names, I have seen places I never knew existed, only knew what I heard. I have spoke into people’s lives with words I heard from The Lord that has made them cry and praise God’s mighty love and power, I have made many friendships with his children after getting a prompting to pray for their lives. I have even gotten guidance on if I bought enough groceries to feed everyone on my team as I run through the market praying that it’s enough. Every time, I get confirmation. Not always immediate, but always when I step out in boldness to share what I heard, I receive His confirmation.
As I quickly wind down my time here on the “mission field” I will take this simple discipline with me where ever I end up. I want His voice to lead my life. I want His voice to direct my daily steps. The world is His mission field, and I hope to spread His glory and just show love to who ever he puts in my life, where ever I go, till the day He brings me home. This year has changed my life. People will say I was on a mission trip for one year. I would have to disagree, as I have come to realize being a missionary is a mind set, and a matter of the heart and its love for all God’s children.
I am currently $1,600 shy of being fully funded. If you feel prompted by The Lord to give a donation or just spread the word to a family member or friend it would mean so much to me. God Bless and thank you for following my journey.
