Jesus Meets Even our Unspoken Needs

God delights in showing us considerate regard

"I will answer them before they even call to me.
    While they are still talking about their needs,
    I will go ahead and answer their prayers!"
Isaiah 65:24 NLT

“Sometimes, your faith can be like an unuttered prayer,” mummy said. She then shared the Bible verse above, Isaiah 65 verse 24. We’d been discussing an incident that had just happened. There was a conference at her church and she’d hosted a number of church goers in her home, about 10 or so by my count. Now, in the city I grew up in and where mummy still lives, access to water can be a challenge. It is a semi-arid area that is prone to droughts and fluctuating rainfall.

Statue of Joshua Nkomo in Bulawayo.
Photo by Gerald Mashonga.

Growing up, we always had to contend with water rationing. Over the years, the situation has gotten progressively worse especially with the deterioration of infrastructure in the country. It has reached a point where each household has to have an alternative water supply or keep water reserves that can last for several days if not weeks or risk going without. The church conference lasted for four days and mummy hosted the church goers for only two to three days.

Needless to say, it was enough to put a dent into the household water reserves because a day into the conference, running water was cut off right on schedule. During one of the teachings at the conference, a speaker shared that they’d experienced an issue with installation of utility meters. They’d been assigned meters that weren’t sufficient to meet their need. He prayed about the issue and he felt God reassure him that He’d already met the need.

He shared that at one point, he ‘spoke to’ these meters with authority because he had faith that he’d already received them. Sure enough, he received the meters that God had promised. And so, when I realised that our water reserves were running low, I remembered this story and contemplated that perhaps I should ‘speak to the water supply’ with authority and tell it to be re-established outside the usual schedule.

I am not certain why I didn’t do this. Perhaps it was because it occurred to me as I was finishing my morning bath and preparing for the day. The thought may have gotten drowned out by the plans and preparations for the day. Perhaps I felt a little silly at the thought. I cannot say for sure. I don’t think it’s important. What’s important is what happened next. Running water was restored a day after it was cut off!! This was completely out of the ordinary. 

Photo by Jos Speetjens on Unsplash

It was very surprising and delightful. We now had more than enough water! As I discussed the incident with my mum, she shared that sometimes prayers do not need to be uttered out loud. God longs to bless us and meet our needs. He knows what we need long before we do. In His grace, He often chooses to meet our needs even before we explicitly ask Him to. At times, our faith in Him, in His ability to help, and more importantly, in His desire to help us is like an unspoken prayer.

Isn’t that just heart-warming. God is good. He is a loving Father who anticipates the needs of His children. He watches over us and moves to help us sometimes even before we know we need His help or think to ask for it. He is incredibly generous and kind. Showing considerate regard for us is in His nature and He delights in doing so. If you have not experienced God in this way, won’t you ask Him to show you? If you have, won’t you remember and reflect on all the goodness He has shown and share it with someone you know. They may be blessed by it.

Three Ways I Encountered Jesus Today

God shows up every day, in every situation

It’s a cold and rainy Tuesday but, other than that, it is a day like any other. I woke up later than usual, checked to see if the power failure in my area had been rectified – it had not – then went for my morning jog. Actually, morning walk is more like it because both my legs were hurting today, especially the right one. It hurt from hip to ankle and made jogging very uncomfortable. I hit the road anyway, hoping the exercise would do my legs some good.

Comfort after a nightmare

The reason I woke up late is because I was plagued with very bad waking dreams during the night, if I can call them that. To be honest, I believe it was actually a spiritual attack. At some point, I could not breathe and I was desperately gasping for air. I remember punching the bed beneath me in my struggle to breath. I was awake and very aware but I was very drowsy. Although I should have been terrified, I was not. 

I remember calling on the name of Jesus knowing he would protect and save me, and protect and save me he did! I began to breathe normally again and the nightmare that was plaguing me subsided. The drowsiness and grogginess disappeared and so did the sense of heaviness. I must have prayed before I eventually fell asleep again.  

As I reflected about the incident this morning, I remember thinking, “I should be or should have been more afraid. Why am I so calm about this?” Well, it’s because of the rock on which I stand. Jesus Christ! Don’t get me wrong. It’s not as though I was unbothered. The incident bothered me for sure. However, I asked for comfort. I asked for rest and reassurance. I prayed for protection and help and even before I experienced it, I knew it was already provided. I received and continue to receive all that I asked for.

Relief from pain

As I mentioned, my legs were hurting this morning. They started hurting last night and the pain escalated. I don’t know at what point my legs stopped hurting. When I got back from my walk, they were still hurting. I used my hand-help massager to massage them which helped a bit but the pain did not disappear. I meant to take pain tablets but I forgot to before I left the house to go about my business. One thing I didn’t do was pray for healing or relief from pain like I sometimes do. Yet, I believe God gave me relief from the pain even though I did not ask for it. In his kindness, he took the pain away.

Recovering something lost

So, I got some silver hoop earrings for my birthday in March this year. They’re currently my favourite pair of earrings. I wore them today and, to my dismay, I noticed one was missing from my ear when I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror as I was washing my hands. Before I even started looking for the missing earring, something told me that I would find it. I started looking for it and found nothing. The feeling that I’d find it persisted. I wasn’t feeling dismayed anymore.

I prayed a quick prayer that I’d find it and decided to carry on with what I was doing. I took one last look underneath the table where I’d been sitting and there it was, nestled nicely in the rug beneath my chair. I was grateful, and I was reminded that God is concerned with every aspect of our lives no matter how small and insignificant the issue might seem.

I make a point to reflect on and store incidents like these in my memory bank for those moments when I need a reminder. A reminder of God’s kindness and goodness. A reminder of just how much God is concerned about my life and my wellbeing. Jesus is faithful and will come through for you. That’s a truth worth shouting from the rooftops 😊

Walking in Light

Overcoming heaviness and defeat

Trigger Warning: Sensitive Content – contains topics pertaining to depression, suicide and spiritual influence.

I was scrolling on social media a couple of days ago and came across a post titled “Lifting Heaviness” posted by someone I follow. The title was quite jarring and I paused for a second then scrolled past it. “This sounds like a heavy post,” I thought to myself, “I don’t think I’ll engage with this.” Yet something made me come back to the post. I opened it and found it linked to a video that was 26.09 minutes long. “Oh, that’s too long! Perhaps I’ll save it and watch it another time,” I said to myself knowing full well I wouldn’t watch it later.

However, my curiosity got the better of me so I decided to just peruse the video, catch the important bits, then keep it moving. Nitah, the vlogger, described an encounter she had with the spirit of suicide and heaviness (I did mention it’s jarring). She described how this spirit disguises itself as your inner voice, presenting itself as your own thoughts so that you’re more receptive to its suggestions or influence. She also spoke about how it isolates you from those who love and support you the most.

Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

Lastly, it comes with a sense of heaviness so that you feel like you are incapable of doing anything. It overwhelms you and everything feels dark and difficult. This caught my attention. God ministered to me through a video that I’d been unwilling to watch in the first place. See, just before I came across it, I’d been feeling down and heavy. At one point, I remember thinking to myself, “You’re worthless. You’re nothing. Everything you touch turns to ash. Look at your life!” Now, I vowed many years ago never to entertain suicidal thoughts, so those never come up for me.

Nonetheless, another equally life-draining thought does. In my defeat and feeling of despair in that moment, I asked God to take me out, take me home because my life wasn’t worth living. It’s not the first time I’ve said this to God. I also thought to myself, “Are you sure God has healed you from depression and anxiety. It seems like you’re still struggling with it. Maybe you just want to imagine that you’ve been healed.” As someone who’s suffered from depression and anxiety in the past, I began to realise I’d become a little too familiar with that feeling of being down, heavy, overwhelmed and feeling like you can’t do life and that’s not from God. 

You can imagine just how timely the testimony and prayer from Nitah were! My primary coping mechanism has been to isolate and retreat into myself. It begs the question, “Is that truly a personality thing or is that something that the enemy has attempted to put on me?” I don’t know. I don’t have the answer. I’m willing to take it to God and let him lead the way. In the same way I believe he healed me from the depression and anxiety that robbed me of life, I believe he will work this out. God is faithful and true. He is mighty to save. Jeremiah says:

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;
save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise.
Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

This post was not easy for me to write. This post is vulnerable and raw. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a very private person but I think it’s important to share. I believe the biggest step in overcoming anything is breaking the silence and stepping into the light! Even as I am writing this, I feel a burden and a sense of heaviness attempting to wash over me but Jesus stands and fights for me. I am concerned about being judged or about offending someone especially those who have lost a loved one to suicide or have attempted it.

However, there may be someone out there who needs to hear this and be encouraged by it. Perhaps this will serve to make someone feel less alone or like there’s something wrong with them. Hear me, there isn’t! You are worthy. You are loved. You are precious. If you can’t believe or accept this, I pray that God will reveal this to you in a personal and intimate way so that you would accept and believe it. May God minister to you, revealing himself to you everywhere you go and in everything you do. May he heal those places within you that are broken, traumatised and hurting. May he end the isolation and the loneliness. I pray that you experience his love and grace right now. In Jesus’ name 🙏🏾 Amen.

Remember My Goodness

For I AM good

“Remember my goodness,” He said. I was taking a walk, ruminating and reflecting when He said this to me. “Okay,” I responded. I tried to but nothing was coming to mind so I said to Him, “I’m drawing a blank. Please remind me.” And remind me He did. He immediately drew me to a park I used to go to often. I remembered a season where I would sit there with Him, pouring my heart out, listening for His voice and being filled every single time.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

He took me on a journey in my mind. I remembered moments in my life, big and small, when he showed up again and again. He made promises that He fulfilled. That was about a year ago. This morning, He reminded me of His goodness again through song. This time, no specific place or moments were on my mind but I found myself reflecting on how faithful, kind, good and full of grace God is. He is tender hearted. He is close to the broken hearted and sorrowful. He rejoices with those who rejoice. He loves with a deep, abiding love.

He delights in His children and is a proud Father. I say He shows up to express how he meets our needs in a way only He can; never too late but never too early, never too little but always fully and abundantly, always perfectly and in perfect love! Yet showing up doesn’t fully capture what He does for He’s always there with us. I take comfort and I delight in this – being known completely, accepted unconditionally, and cared for diligently and lovingly all day, every day. I’m in awe.

What good things has God done for you? How has He shown up in your life or your world? Have you reflected on His character, actions or Word lately? I invite you to do so, again and again. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Onwards and Upwards

Happy New Year, Everybody

It’s the second day of 2023. I feel a prompting in my soul to ‘write’ but I have no idea what to write about, what to say. A couple of years ago, this time of the year, I took a break. I told myself, “It’s the festive season. You’re tired. You’re grieving. You have a lot to figure out. Take a break.” It was sound advice I gave myself. I did neglect to set a date to get back into writing. And that is how all this time passed without me getting back into regular writing.

Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

This, right here, is an act of obedience to Jesus. An act of obedience even when I have no clarity. To be honest, I don’t see the path but such is life, isn’t it? Often, we don’t see the full picture. In fact, many times, we only have a step. This is my step. I’ve felt a prompting in my soul for some time to write, and the purpose is to glorify Jesus. This is all I know. So, here I am with my proverbial pen and paper writing in obedience and waiting for the next step. 

There’s the temptation to give in to guilt. I should have done this sooner. I should have done better. Should have. Could have. Would have. Yet this isn’t how Jesus speaks to me. This isn’t how he relates to me. He showers me with grace. He corrects and directs me to the opportunities before me. He’s ever-loving and patient, giving me wisdom and insight just when I need it. 

So, I’m learning to do the same with myself and others. I’m learning to shower myself with love and grace even when I miss the mark. I’m leaning into unconditional self-love and patience. I am learning not to hold it against myself when I fall short or miss the mark. I’m excited about what’s ahead. If I’m being honest, I’m also a bit nervous and confused at times. However, I’m mostly excited and very grateful. Thank you, Jesus!

Happy New Year, beloved. Join me as I move onwards and upwards. I’d love the company. Onwards and upwards we go.

Asking the hard Questions

Is it okay to bring your questions to God?

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Oxford Languages defines ‘questioning’ as the act of asking someone questions, especially in an official context, and showing an interest in learning new things. I don’t know about you but I find that when you talk about ‘questioning’, generally speaking, the definition that pops into many people’s minds first is ‘expressing doubts about the value or truth of something’. Being an inquisitive person, I’m naturally inclined to ask questions or seek information. I enjoy pondering about many things, the big things and the seemingly insignificant things. Today I got to pondering about asking God questions.

I was chatting to someone close to me earlier and they mentioned they were spending time reading the Bible, reflecting, and asking God questions about what He’s directing them to do with their life. As we chatted, it emerged that like me, they had done this before and received a response. Yet they were asking God the same questions again. I was very encouraged to hear that I’m not the only one who does this. I feel like I have been asking God the same questions over and over for years despite receiving a response for many of these questions. It’s easy to start to feel bad for asking.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Also, this person I was chatting to is a very wise and dedicated Christian who I look up to very much. This reaffirmed how normal and natural questioning is. It told me that no matter how mature I become as a Christian, I will still question and I think that is a good thing. There is nothing inherently wrong with questioning. Questioning serves a purpose and I’ve categorised this into five reasons why we question: searching for an answer, seeking reassurance, asking for confirmation, soliciting strength, and expressing doubt.

Searching for an answer

One of the reasons we ask questions is because we have a need – a need for an answer or for some kind of provision. Jesus’ heart is to provide for us, to answer our deepest needs as well as our minor needs. He said, “Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? ….But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”

Seeking reassurance

Often, when we question God, we are actually looking for encouragement. There are many times where I have prayed and have heard an answer from God. Yet because what God has said has not yet manifested, I might ask the same questions again. Perhaps a new development has happened or something I hadn’t considered suddenly comes to light. Worry and even fear may begin to creep in. Asking the same questions sometimes is a response to that worry or fear that threatens me. As a child running to her dad, I ask him to reassure me and He is more than happy to do so. 

Asking for confirmation

“Did I hear what I think I heard, Jesus?” “Did you really say what I think you said, God?”

“Was that your voice or was that actually my own?” I can’t tell you how many times I have asked these questions in one form or another. This is typically when I first hear a response from God and I want to test or confirm it to make sure, especially if it is surprising or unusual. Questioning, in this instance, serves the purpose of ensuring that we are aligned with God. James 1:5 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Expressing doubt
Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

This brings me to the issue of doubt or unbelief. Perhaps God has placed something on your heart and you don’t think it can or will happen. One of the things I struggle with, personally, is believing it can happen for me. When we receive God’s counsel or response, we’re told not to doubt but to believe because doubting causes us to drift and be unanchored. We feel troubled, uneasy, and not at peace. However, when you doubt, I think it is important to remember that Jesus does not judge you. Instead, He shows mercy, grace and compassion. Therefore, you must also show yourself mercy, grace and compassion. You can ask God to help you overcome doubt and free you from it and He will.

Soliciting strength

Let’s imagine that God has confirmed something he’s placed on your heart. You have faith, there’s not a shred of doubt in you. You are confident in Christ. Yet when you are going through it all, it starts to feel like it’s too much for you. Sometimes, we might question God, not because we don’t believe or need confirmation or an answer but because we just need strength to stay the course. When you’re in the midst of a difficult situation, it takes a lot of strength to endure. Challenges can test every aspect of you until you’re exhausted or spent and you may start to ask God some tough questions. There were many times in the past when I knew what I needed to do but I thought I didn’t have it in me to do it or to keep going. 

At times, I found myself saying, “It shouldn’t be this difficult if you’re in it, God.” Yet that is exactly the case during those times. I may face so many obstacles and opposition in the course of doing what God has called me to do and they may feel like they’re beyond me. I’ve come to understand that Christ did not promise an easy life. However, he did promise to be with us always and to carry our burdens. In times of difficulty, I have found that I can cry out to God and He rescues me and gives me strength. As a friend of God, you do not have to endure on your own. Jesus gives you the strength to keep going and to overcome

What are your thoughts and experiences when it comes to questioning?

Walk with Me

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All at once, the walls crowded in on me
You are mine, my hand is ever upon you
Closing in from the back and the front
I hem you in behind and before
From the left and the right they edged in
Have I not given you rest on every side?
I desperately needed to find an escape
I make a way where there seems to be none

Like a thick fog, the darkness crept in
To me, the night shines as bright as day
It descended on me like a dark cloud
I formed you in your mother’s womb
The sun couldn’t seem to break through
I know you and I know your concerns
Desperately I sought to catch some light
I am the light, your salvation. Come to me

I made the earth, placing much beauty in it
You created me in your wonderous image
Yes, I placed my divine beauty within you
Come walk with me, I’m here with you
I shall match your steps and your direction
I, myself, have set eternity within your heart
Then that shall be my destination, my destiny
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Walking in harmony with you is what I yearn
Place your trust in me; I’m the anchor that holds
Who am I that you show concern for me?
I AM the Lord who made and adopted you as mine
Truly I am blessed and favoured by the Most High
You’re like a tree planted beside a quiet stream
I shall bloom and be fruitful where I’m planted
You shall never wither, prospering in all you do

About the author

Flo Boora – Jesus follower, lover of life, story teller, adventurer, foodie, natural-born motivator, perpetual learner.

I Wish I Knew Someone

An influential contact can make things happen

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She spoke in a low tone. Her voice sounded rather subdued, not like her usual vibey and bubbly self. I could tell something was wrong even before she told me. She’d been working on an incredible project and was excited about it. Super excited. I’d seen some of her work and she was killing it. The project held a lot of promise and I was proud of my friend. Fast forward to this week when I got a message from her. It seemed she’d hit a snag.

She wasn’t getting the payment and recognition for her hard work and for the results she’d delivered. She’d made good on her end of the bargain and the other party was failing to deliver on theirs. Excuses abounding, they kept pushing her from pillar to post and despite her efforts, the other party seemed to be getting away with not honouring their agreement. Meanwhile, she needed to pay the service providers she’d worked with. “I feel defeated,” she said.

“I’m crying out to God saying, ‘Lord, you’re my father. Where are you when evil men seem to prosper? Where are you to defend the defenceless?’ I wish that I knew someone, someone influential that I could call,” she bemoaned. “I don’t have a contact who can step in, deal with these guys, and then my payment would just come through.” As she spoke, my heart went out to her. I could tell she felt demoralised and was at her wit’s end.

I responded to her voice note, encouraging and empathising with her as best as I could. She’d been planning to put together a testimony but was waiting until she was in a better frame of mind. I get that. I’d have probably done the same. I’d guess that we all probably would. Yet, I think it’s just as powerful, if not more, to testify and give God the glory when we feel dejected, when we don’t feel like doing it, when we haven’t seen the end result yet, when we’re still waiting for a breakthrough. I think that’s what faith is – trusting and glorifying God when we don’t know how it’s going to work out.

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

I shared this with her and ended off with, “I know it sounds cheesy. I know it sounds corny, but you do know somebody. You know God. Listen, this is the creator of the universe. It doesn’t get more influential than that! I’ve seen him, time and time again, come through when there seemed to be no way out. Yes, he doesn’t always come through for us in the way or the timing that we anticipate but he does always come through.”

She later told me that whilst she was still listening to my voice note, her mum called and told her that God had placed a Bible verse on her heart – Psalm 118:22. She shared that she didn’t know who the verse was intended for but she encouraged my friend to read it and meditate on it then sing a song called “Take All the Glory.” When she got off the phone, she listened to the rest of my voice note and I seemed to be saying the same thing at more or less the same time – the glory belongs to God despite the circumstances.

Photo by Jeff Rodgers on Unsplash

My friend took that to mean that God was speaking to her, perhaps not in the way she wanted him to respond to her but he was responding nonetheless. She felt much better after that call and voice note. She felt enlightened. Meanwhile, I was encouraged, touched, and inspired by her experience. I still feel grateful and honoured that God partnered with me to minister to my friend, that I could play a small part in helping her in her situation. She does know someone very, very influential indeed 😉, someone willing and able to influence events for the good of those He loves.

Design Work of Art

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I am the blank canvas
You’re the Master Artist
You’re the Potter I’m the clay

Slowly, surely, I’m becoming
Becoming a masterpiece
A design work of art
Perfected by You

Excitement wells up within
At times apprehension
Yet I give myself fully
Fully unto my Master

About the author

Flo Boora – Jesus follower, lover of life, story teller, adventurer, foodie, natural-born motivator, perpetual learner.