Here is a continuation of the lessons I learned from Training Camp. Continue to read on, I am trying to break it up alittle for you. 🙂
Lesson 2:
I learned that God is Jehovah-Jireh– God will provide. Not only is God providing all my funds for this trip, but also God provided answers. During this week, God provided his presence to me in the moments I needed him most. God spoke to me with the words he knew I needed. And God also provided a steadfast whisper when my stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to hear his voice speaking sweet words to me. So to explain a little more…
Part of training camp was team formations, and part of team formations was selecting team leaders. I was asked to meet my squad leaders after lunch one day. As I made my way to the meeting place, my mind was running through everything it could be about. When I took my seat, my heart started to beat rapidly. The words from the speaker hit my ears like a fast approaching rain in a desert land…“We would like to extend the invitation for you to be a Team Leader.” A big gulp hit the bottom of my stomach…
They told us to spend some time with God to see what His plans were for us. I silently prayed for the answer from God. “God, what do you want me to do? Is this for me? Is this a ‘yes’ from you?” As I prayed, an image of a nametag waving around as someone walked toward me flashed in my thoughts. The nametag read…YES.
I prayed again, “God, what do you want me to do? Is this for me? Is this a ‘yes’ from you?” (May I remind you that God provided a steadfast whisper when my stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to hear his voice speaking to me.) As I prayed, an image of Campbell’s alphabet soup flashed in my thoughts. The soup settled to show me three little letter noodles…YES.
Again, I prayed. “God, what do you want me to do? Is this for me? Is this a ‘yes’ from you?” As I prayed again, an image of clouds flashed in my thoughts. The clouds came together to form…YES.
Still not hearing God’s answer, I prayed, “God, if this is a Yes from you, will you have someone cough in this room?” It fell to silence in the room. I quickly apologized to God for testing his mighty presence and went back to praying for his answer. I was overtaken by the out-of-body urge to….well…cough… That’s right. After 4 times, God still provided me with his answer. It was a yes! Afterward, I humbly accepted to be a Team Leader.
I will admit to a spirit of fear but God has broken my bondage to myself and has given me a spirit willing to fail and learn to lean ONLY on his strength everyday. I know this because he spoke to me regarding just this the day BEFORE I was asked to be a leader.
As we entered into a time of listening prayer I sat with journal in hand ready to hear from God, accompanied by a mind running in a million different directions. As I began to write, words flowed from my pen about what my mind was running around like waterfalls and tents but nothing more. I stopped for a second, found a new page and started writing again. This time though, it wasn’t me writing those words. My journal reads,
“Trust in me. Nothing by your power will succeed without me walking HAND in HAND with you! Don’t think that a leadership role will be put on you without a lot of difficulty and a lot of weakness on your part. You cannot do it without me! I want you to hear this! It is ME in you that is a leader!!”
Let me remind you, this was written the day BEFORE I was asked to be a leader. I stand in awe of my Jehovah-Jireh-God who provides. He provided answers to me! His whisper was exactly what my heart needed to hear! 🙂
