This month, I asked God to reveal Himself to me in a new way and in order to do that I wanted Him to tear down my expectations of how He worked.
I know. It sounds crazy. But try to stay with me…
We were participating in a worship night at our home church for the month and when the music began I started praying, singing, and worshiping. After a few songs, I got this vision of myself as a small child on the beach running. I was barefoot, wearing shorts and a tank top and my hair was waving in the breeze. I was running towards God. He had His arms wide open and His smile was filled with anticipation and excitement.
Once I got close, I leapt into His arms without hesitation. He held me tight and swung me around. It was glorious and full of sunshine and joy and laughter.
So that was awesome, in and of itself. Then I decided I’d continue on that whole ‘conversing with God’ thing that I’ve been trying the past month, and I asked Him HOW I can run fully focused on Him. He told me that it was in the decisions and the choices that I made everyday, in every little thing. Sweet, that makes sense. But I wanted more. I asked Him to show me what kind of choices, specifically. Not 3 minutes later, a church member tapped me on the shoulder and said that God had shown him me in 11 countries, barefoot, sinking my feet into the soil of each country- being truly immersed in it. He saw me feeling everything and doing everything- even when it wasn’t good, or was crazy and uncomfortable. He also told me that I was making an impact for God even when I couldn’t see it.
Say what?!? God gave a stranger a vision for ME? To speak into my questions and thoughts that I had just posed to Him? My mind was spinning.
Then I looked up and saw a woman painting this picture in the front of church…
Two people on the beach, one leaping and running towards the other. It was beautiful, and I was overwhelmed. I just sat there, completely in awe of how far God will go to share His thoughts meant just for me. There’s no doubt in my mind that this picture was drawn especially for me, which I know sounds selfish, but God really does love me that much.
