Lately, I have been enjoying how God has been using unlikely creatures in the animal kingdom to reveal things, reminders or lessons, if you will. Today, I got a mental picture of a ladybug while I was praying. Naturally, I looked up some facts about ladybugs and have compiled seven Bible-based reminders for daily living from the lovely little ladybug.
Be Useful
Ladybugs eat pests that are harmful to plants such as aphids, and one beetle – yes, ladybugs are beetles – can eat up to 5,000 of these in its lifetime. This is very useful to farmers and makes ladybugs well-loved by them. How can you serve God and others today and everyday like the ladybug? Galatians 6:10, John 9:4
Be an answer to prayer
It is said that ladybugs showed up after farmers prayed for a solution to pests that were ravaging their crops. I think this is noteworthy. Imagine how joyful and blessed those farmers felt after the ladybugs arrived and cleaned up their fields. You can also be a blessing and an answer to prayer, and often, just by simply showing up and being magnificently you. Genesis 12:2, Proverbs 11:25
Be a good planner
Did you know that ladybugs can plan ahead for shortages in their food supply? They are able to eat their eggs – yes, gross – and so, they lay infertile eggs for themselves and for their young to eat when there are shortages. Likewise, be sure to plan ahead under the Lordship, leadership and guidance of God. Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 24:27
Be colourful – show your true colours
To show your true colours means to reveal your character or to make known what you are really like in nature.
Ladybugs come in a variety of colours and markings. In fact, there are about 5,000 varieties of them and I’m sure you’ve seen how beautiful they are. Let this inspire you to allow God to nurture and build your character then let is shine for the world to enjoy and find inspiration. Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:12-14
Be transformed
Like the dung and other beetles, ladybugs go through a transformation from young to adulthood. As a follower of Christ, you also go through a transformation from spiritual immaturity to maturity as stated in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” Lean into the transformation God has planned for you. Isaiah 64:8, Romans 12:2
Be vigilant about enemies
The colours of a ladybug, as pleasant as they are, serve a purpose. They deter predators, making them think the beetles are poisonous and no good for eating! You have a natural predator, the devil, and you are to ‘be alert and of sober mind for your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:9). Be vigilant against the enemy of your soul. Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Peter 5:9
Be fruitful and multiply
Ladybugs are found everywhere except the Arctic and in Antarctic. They live in many habitats and adapt to many different conditions. They are quick to mature and are very productive. Emulate the ladybug and be effective and fruitful for it is to your Heavenly Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be Jesus’ disciple (John 15:8). John 15:4-5, Luke 6:43-45, Genesis 1:28
Someone recently asked me about Christmas. What’s the significance? Why do you celebrate it? Is it not just another commercial holiday? Well, for me, Christmas is not just another holiday or a time to rest and spend with loved ones. Though these things are quite important, it’s a whole lot more than that. So, I will try my best to explain why I celebrate Christmas and what it means to me.
Christmas is a celebration of a significant event in history. It is a remembrance of an important birth, one that marks the ushering in of a new era for me and for many believers like me. Approximately 2030 years ago, give or take, a child was born. The exact year and the exact date of His birth is not known though many scholars have estimations on when that would have been. That’s okay because it’s really about a birthday. It’s about celebrating God taking on human form, coming into the world and saving us. More on that in a moment.
One thing that makes this birth significant is that it had been foretold in Scripture at the time, and therefore, was a long-awaited event. One prophet, Isaiah, foretold it in Isaiah 9:6 -7 ESV saying “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” Micah, the prophet, foretells the place of birth as well in Micah 5:2 ESV, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
This Son who was born ushered in a new kingdom – the kingdom of heaven – a kingdom of light instead of darkness; freedom instead of captivity; healing in place of sickness and infirmity; joy and rejoicing in place of sorrow and moaning; abundance in place of lack and spiritual enlightenment and prosperity in place of ignorance and spiritual poverty. In Matthew 11: 5 – 6, Jesus said, “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Jesus did and still does heal those who are blind, sick, deaf, sick, and dead, both literally and figuratively. Jesus provides for those in any kind of need.
I have also heard it said that He came into the world to testify about the truth and I believe that. What truth? The truth about who God is, His heart for us and what it takes for us to have a relationship with Him. God is our Father – He created us in His image and we were designed to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to have eternal companionship with Him. He loves us more than we could even understand and wants only good things for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”
At some point, because of sin, we were separated from this friendship with God. Sin is living outside the design of God and choosing to do our own thing or go our own way instead of what God wants for us. The serpent who represents Satan, the enemy of our souls, asked that age-old trick question, “Did God really say…?” He would still have us ask that question today, and it is a trick question because of what that question represents. See, asking questions is not a bad thing. God would have us ask Him anything. It’s the desire and the purpose of the questioning that was problematic.
Several times in the Bible, God invites us to talk it out with Him and to get to know Him. For example, in Isaiah 1:18 we hear, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Amos 3:3 BST echoes the same sentiment, “Shall two walk together at all, if they do not know one another?” When the serpent asked if God had really said not to eat the forbidden fruit, he was inviting man to deny God’s authority and rule and choose their own in an attempt to be like God. He still sends out that invitation today, every day – our design and wisdom over God’s.
Now, God takes a very hard stance on sin because it breaks our friendship with Him and has us living as far less than He ever intended us to be. It separates us from God and we incur a penalty for denying God. That penalty is death, and not just literally, but figuratively as well. Many times, I have been asked why I would follow a God who dishes out death and penalties. Here is the thing, God is the author of life and without Him, there can be none. God is peace. He is love. God authored joy and everything good. God wants us to understand that the moment we do not choose Him, we are also turning our back on everything that He personifies.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23 NLT. So, God sent the only remedy to the problem of sin, His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6 ESV, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” In John 10:9-10 ESV, He says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Over the centuries, we forgot how we came to live in sin, separated from God. We forgot who we are according to God. Our desire for Him grew cold. Who is He? Does He even exist? Do I need Him? What does it mean for my life to believe in Him. Then, enter in Jesus, the Son of God to answer our questions. Jesus revealed and still reveals the character of God our Father, what His heart for us is and what His plans for our future are. Jesus showed and still shows how God would have us live our lives, what our true identity is in Him, and how to be reconciled with Him in friendship.
When man ate of the forbidden fruit, everything in creation fell under the curse of sin. “Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time,” Romans 8:20-22 NLT. Jesus, being the only perfect person and being God, is able to take on all our sin upon Himself (past, present and future sins) and pay the penalty for sin that we are supposed to pay.
Hebrews 10: 11 – 12 NLT tells us this, “Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honour at God’s right hand.” That is why Christmas is significant to me. It is a day on which followers of Christ have chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ because it marks the beginning of salvation and the end of the hold of death and sin over my life. It is the beginning of a new era! John the Baptist said it aptly in John 1:29 ESV when he said of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Picture a beautiful day. It’s a day like any other yet there’s a special quality to it. The air is fresh and sweet. Birds are cheerfully singing melodious tunes. The sky is a clear and radiant blue. The people you encounter look joyful. There’s a sense of peace and calm in the air. Everything seems just right, it is as it should be. There’s a soft, cool breeze that feels like a caress on the skin, and the sun is out in all its splendour.
It’s not too bright so that it hurts the eyes. Nothing conceals it this day, it is smiling down on this wonderful day. Its warmth touches the skin, so pleasant and uplifting. One can’t help but close eyes, turn face towards it and just bask in it. Bursts of orange appear behind closed lids, so vibrant like the day. Contentment seeps in and every muscle relaxes as each deep and contented breath fills the lungs like never before.
A thought. This is life. This is life at its fullest! This is life as it should be. A fitting thought because, indeed, with the Son, such is life. His sun never sets. His loving kindness never grows cold. His light shines on all and cannot be concealed or subverted. His warmth seeps into the fibres of your soul – there bringing life, there bringing healing, there bringing sustenance. His protection, like the rays of the sun, falls on and envelopes everything He touches.
The cold of loneliness is dispelled. The chill of fear thaws and melts away. The dark of confusion dissipates. Despair shatters and hopelessness falls. In the light of the Son, freedom and hope reign. Hearts and lives are full as His own soak in His abundance. Goodness will never leave. Unmerited favour will never abandon. A beautiful day has dawned, the day of the one true King, Jesus Christ. Come, let us bask in the light of the Son.
I have just watched the Jan Broberg story. Man, oh man. What a story! It made me feel so many things – anger, sorrow, disbelief, shock then right back to anger. It’s unbelievable. It’s shocking. It stays with me. I felt traumatised just from watching it and I couldn’t imagine what Jan Broberg went through, what her family went through, and what the people affected by Bob Berchtold went through.
The level of commitment the man showed to infiltrate the family and get what he wanted was insane. As the story played over in my mind, I realised that’s what the enemy of our souls, the devil, does, isn’t it? He sells us lies and tries to manipulates us. He tries to convince us that our Father is not our father. He tries to separate us from those that love us and care for us the most. He tries to separate us from God. He goes to extraordinary lengths, tirelessly using all kinds of cunning tactics.
If we believe him, we start to believe things that are alien to our identity and our purpose. We take on a purpose contrary to the one God gave us. The light of Jesus no longer reaches us like it should and we feel lost, conflicted and burdened. We no longer experience the peace that Jesus so freely gives. The remedy? Run! Run! Run! Run to Jesus. Run to His Truth. Run to His light.
Let His peace that passes understanding seep in. Let his unshakeable Word drive out every lie, nullify every manipulation, and tear down everything that is contrary to who God says you are. You are a child of God. You are loved and known completely by Him. He carries your burdens and carries you through anything you’ll ever face. If you need it today, let His truth, light and love in. Let Him guide you. Let Him heal you. Let Him fight for you. Run to him.
LORD, let me start by saying thank you so much. Thank you for loving me. I thought I knew what love was until I began to understand your love for me. Yet even now, I cannot say I fully understand it. It is a deep, profound and unmatched kind of love. You loved me first, and you loved me fully. Your love is perfect, sacrificial and everlasting. You’ve made my heart glad and my soul sing! You’ve given me purpose. You’ve given me life in so many ways. I love you because you loved me first. Thank you for loving me!
In you I have found my identity. Even in the moments when I lose sight of who I am, you never forget. There you are, lovingly reminding me. You guide and lead me every day even when I am not aware of it. Even in those moments when I think I have it all figured out, charting my own path, there you are, ever patient with me… You are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Never have I been turned away or rejected by you. You’re my ever-present help and faithful companion even when I miss the mark and fall short.
I am in awe of you. Who is like you, God? You are unmatched in all your ways. Who can compete with you? Who has better understanding or knowledge than you? Your wisdom is infinite. Your power and might are majestic to behold. Yet you are humble! Your heart is so tender and kind. I am truly in awe of you. When I reflect on all these things, I am amazed and humbled. I feel honoured to be called your child, to be a part of your family. You’ve completely accepted me and given this soul, this heart, a home.
Though you’ve accepted me wholly, you’ve also made me a better person. I have more grace and patience towards others. You’ve given me your heart such that I capable of loving others deeply even when I do not know them or cannot find reasons to love them. You are reason enough! You inspire me to forgive and build bridges even when it doesn’t seem to serve me because it serves you. You’ve given me a deeper appreciation for truth and justice. I find I pursue excellence and Godliness in the big, life-changing things as well as the small inconsequential things. Yet, I am far from perfect though you are perfecting me.
You know me better than I could ever know myself. Everything that I am capable of, everything that I think and do, all my motivations and desires, nothing is a mystery or a surprise to you. My past, present and future is laid bare before you and that gives me a sense of security and comfort. You know it all and you’ve made provisions for it all. Did I mention I’m in awe of you? I adore you. I worship you. I praise and magnify you. You alone deserve all the glory and honour and praise. You are worthy of all of me, of the best of me!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you again, Dad. I love you.
It was a busy of planning and shopping at Sandton City Mall. I was tired and ready to head home but I had one or two more things I needed to do before. But first, I needed the bathroom so I headed to the nearest ladies. As I prepared to leave the stall I was in, I suddenly felt uneasy and unsafe. I couldn’t explain it. Nothing had happened. Nothing had changed.
I prayed about it before I left the bathroom stall and then headed out. To my relief, there was a security guard right outside washing her hands by the sink. I was so happy to see her and felt relief wash over me as I washed my hands next to her then I left the bathroom. As I continued running my errands, it didn’t take long to realise I no longer had my cell phone.
To my horror, realised I’d left it in the bathroom stall! Now, panic washed over me as I remembered exactly how this had happened. I’d been holding it when I entered the stall. I didn’t wanna put it away because I was eager to finish my errands, which required my phone, and then head home. So, I put it on the toilet paper holder instead, making a mental note to remember it.
Automatically, I started praying as I hightailed it back to the bathroom as quickly as I could without losing my dignity. When I arrived, the stall was occupied. I waited impatiently for the lady inside to come out. Finally, she did; I rushed in and, to my dismay, the phone wasn’t there. I caught up with her at the bathroom sinks.
“Did you see a phone in the stall you were in by any chance?” I asked. She had not. I was crestfallen. I lingered for a moment hoping someone else had but it quickly became apparent that I was wasting time. Dejected, I left the bathroom and as I walked out, I saw the security person from earlier – the same one I’d been so relieved to see! For the second time that day, I was so relieved and happy to see her face. Perhaps she knew or saw something.
Sure enough, she had. It turns out someone had gone in after me, seen the cell phone, and handed it to her. She later told me that several people warned her that it was not a good idea to hang on to the phone saying such good Samaritan acts didn’t end well usually. I’m glad she didn’t listen to them. Instead, she handed the phone over to her supervisor for safekeeping.
She showed me where to go to collect my phone. Her supervisor wasn’t at the office when I arrived and I began to pray again. After a while that seemed like an eternity, the supervisor arrived with the phone and gave it back to me. I was so overjoyed I told anyone who would listen at that office what had happened. “Wow, you are so lucky. That never happens, especially at this mall,” one lady remarked.
I knew I wasn’t lucky. It could only have been the Spirit of God working to turn around the situation for my good. I told her as much. Thank God, I said, and she agreed. I walked off feeling very blessed, feeling seen, and feeling loved. God foresaw the situation and warned me about it in the stall.
I remembered the uneasy feeling I’d had before leaving the stall earlier. It didn’t cause me to remember to take my phone but it did cause me to notice and remember the security guard, and she remembered me too. I must have greeted her very warmly though I can’t say for sure. I just remember that she immediately recognised me when she saw me again.
God continued to work in the situation and not only made sure I got my phone back, but I’m certain that He glorified His name amongst everyone involved in the incident, everyone who heard about it then, and I hope everyone who hears about it now as well. How amazing and great is our God! How awesome and merciful are His acts!
But the Father will send the Holy Spirit to be with you.
He will be your Helper. He will come in my name, and he will teach you all things.
He will help you to remember everything that I have told you.
John 14:26 Easy English
It never fails to bring me joy and amaze me just how much Jesus cares about my day-to-day life. The things that fill my day and fill my mind are of concern to Him. He chooses to concern Himself with the things that concern me, be it small and seemingly inconsequential things or the bigger things that change the trajectory or the quality of my life. For example, I have a small garden of succulents that have been struck by a disease. Some have died, some are dying and some are sick and in need of help. I was concerned about losing them all and I prayed. It gave me peace and hope that Jesus would heal them.
This is a relatively small issue yet Jesus’ response about my succulents was just as timely, tender-hearted, considerate, and as reassuring as His response was when I prayed about my mother’s health. She has been unwell and I was worried. The moment I prayed for her, His peace washed over me and I received assurance that she shall be well. What a good friend I have in Jesus! Last week, I was taking stock of my finances and quickly realised I wasn’t going to be able to do all the things I was planning and hoping to do. Without even having to consciously pray about it, Jesus reminded me of a Bible verse I’d posted a few days earlier:
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am He; I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4 NIV
I felt God saying to me, “I will sustain you. I will carry you.” What a good Father God is! He knows my hopes and dreams. He knows my worries and cares. He knows my plans, but more importantly, He knows the plans he has for me, plans for a future and a hope, plans to prosper me and not harm me (Jeremiah 29:11). Earlier today, I was praying about a big and important decision. I was feeling a little apprehensive and was aware that I’d been placing pressure on myself to move forward and take a step. So, I was praying for guidance. I was praying that I would make the decision based on His purpose and plans for me and not out of fear or desperation or whatever pressure I was feeling.
I felt that still, quiet voice that I have come to know and love so much say, “Soar. Spread your wings, daughter.” It reminded me of the Bible verse in Isaiah 40:31:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
What an amazing encourager, guide, and comforter the Holy Spirit is! Where would I be without Jesus? For He is a sustainer, an encourager, a friend, a comforter, and a good leader. If you need sustenance today or guidance, why don’t you ask Him? If you need to run something by someone or some advice, why don’t you tell Him what you need? If you need reassurance, encouragement, or comfort, it is readily available for you. Talk to Jesus; He is waiting for you!
What’s a Relationship with the Spirit of God Like?
“Every morning when I awake, I greet the Holy Spirit and invite Him to go with me through the day and take the lead in all my affairs, and He does. I say, Good morning Holy Spirit. Let’s work together today and I will be Your vessel.’ Every evening before retiring I say again, ‘It’s been a wonderful day working with You, Holy Spirit.” This is an excerpt from the book ‘The Holy Spirit, My Senior Partner’ by David Yonggi Cho which I’m currently reading. It has been an eye-opening and fascinating read and I’m barely a third of the way through.
It’s one of my mother’s many books – she’s an avid reader. She gave it to me when I mentioned I needed something to read on a long bus journey. I’m so glad I’m reading it. I have an awareness of the Holy Spirit and His work. In fact, I have experienced being filled by the Holy Spirit resulting in speaking in tongues, feeling a deep and inexplicable sense of joy and peace, feeling like I’m bathed in warmth and light, experiencing a lightness of being and sensing I’m held in a loving embrace by Almighty God. More than that, I have sensed the Spirit of God speak to me, placing thoughts and knowledge within me.
However, I think I am gaining a deeper understanding of the divine person that is the Holy Spirit. For one, I don’t think I was comfortable with or fully realised the fact that the Spirit of God is an incorporeal entity in the same way Jesus is. I remember using personal pronouns like ‘He, Him’ to refer to the Holy Spirit at church many years ago and being swiftly corrected. The people I’d been speaking to became very uncomfortable with this. I never looked further into it but at some point, I started being uncomfortable with using those pronouns too as if they were not Biblical.
Fast forward to today, reading this book, I am reminded that they are, in fact, Biblical – see John 15:26, John 16: 7-8, and John 16:13. The Holy Spirit has emotions, the Holy Spirit speaks, the Holy Spirit has virtues and indeed, the Holy Spirit has a personality. I was convicted that I had taken these things for granted. I had heard them before but they hadn’t really sunk in deep and taken root. So, I emulated what David Yonggi Cho had done and asked the Holy Spirit to come and take leadership in my life and circumstances. I said that I wanted to partner with Him and be His vessel. It was late at night and I said that I was looking forward to what he would do the next day.
Sure enough, the Spirit of God unexpectedly partnered with me very early the next morning. I was asleep when I felt someone sit down next to me. I woke up with a start, removed the mask covering my face and saw a young lady sitting next to me. I was not impressed. The bus was not full! Why on Earth would she choose a seat where someone was already sitting?! I was sitting at the front of the bus so I turned back to double check. As sure as day, there were plenty of unoccupied seats behind us. I tried hard to hide my annoyance and compose myself.
“I shouldn’t have removed my handbag from the seat next to me,” I thought to myself, “then perhaps she wouldn’t have sat here.” Then I immediately felt bad about my attitude. I thought, “Flo, you’re not entitled to this bus seat. Perhaps there’s something about your demeanour that’s inviting and she felt comfortable sitting next to you.” Then I noticed her taking pics and videos since were at the window of a double-decker bus. “See, perhaps she wants to document the journey. It could even be her first time travelling to Cape Town.” I began to soften towards her then I decided to pray.
I’d barely started praying when I felt God say, “Thank me.” I thanked Him for all the things I could think of until I grudgingly thanked Him for the young lady sitting next to me. “Pray for her,” He said. “For her or with her?” I asked. He responded, “For her” I was relieved. I didn’t particularly feel like starting that conversation with her. I started praying and I felt God put it on my heart to pray for peace, for joy, for a sense of identity and a release from what was holding her down or holding her back. My heart softened towards her some more. Then I heard God say, “Ask her what her name is.”
I protested slightly. “Lord, we’re about 100 km from Cape Town. What if she decides to chat with me all the way? It would be a long 100km for me. It’s early in the morning. I am not a morning person and I’m an introvert. Striking up conversations with strangers can be hard for me.” Even as I protested, I knew I was just making excuses. I mustered up the courage and asked her what her name was. She told me. “I’ve done it, Lord,” I said, “now what?” Just then she asked if we’d passed the tunnel. I said we hadn’t and she responded that I was so loud.
Her words had me smarting. “Did you hear what she said, Lord? Unbelievable.” God remained silent but my annoyance started dissipating. “Ask her what she does,” He eventually said. It took me a few minutes but then I asked. She told me she’s studying dentistry. We exchanged a few more pleasantries and then fell into a comfortable silence. As we drew closer to our destination, she started packing up her stuff. I heard God prompt me to pray with her. This time I didn’t hesitate or give excuses. I started looking for an opening and when she made a comment about her jacket, I got the opportunity I was looking for.
I asked her if I could pray with her. To my surprise, she was very receptive. I beckoned her to sit as she was already standing then explained that when she sat next to me, God had prompted me to pray for joy and peace for her. During our conversation earlier before we settled into a comfortable silence, she’d mentioned that she’s not a positive person and when I asked why she said circumstances make her feel that way. Thus, I had the confirmation that the prayer for joy and peace was indeed from God and it was apt. I proceeded to pray for her and the words just tumbled out of me easily.
At several points during the prayer, she squeezed my hand in agreement and at some point, I opened my eyes and looked at her bowed head and saw her nodding. I became emotional but continued praying until I felt I was done. When I said Amen, she lifted her head and I saw that she too was emotional. She thanked me and joked that I was making her emotional. I told her I was emotional too and this time, I earnestly thanked her for sitting next to me. I hugged her again and told her God loved her. She told me that my prayer had been spot on and addressed what she needed. I knew then that the Holy Spirit had just beautifully partnered with me.
But wait. There’s more. Not too long ago, I found myself in a similar situation. I was on a bus with a man who was travelling with a woman who could only have been his mum. Their resemblance was striking. Her legs were swollen and she moved slowly with much difficulty. I was certain she was in pain. Throughout the trip, I watched how he patiently and lovingly helped her along. I felt prompted to pray for her and so I did. When we arrived, he helped me offload my bag without being asked. I was impressed and grateful. As I watched them load their bags into their lift, I felt God prompt me to go over and pray with them.
Sadly, I chickened out. I felt awkward and didn’t know what I would say, or how I would even start the conversation. “Look, they are loading their bags and ready to leave. Surely, I can’t hold them back. Why now when they are ready to go?” I had said to God at the time and watched them leave. I thought of that son and his mother often and wished I had just gone over like God had prompted me to. Who knows how they and I would have been blessed? I told myself that that incident would serve as a lesson and a reminder. God clearly wanted to do something and I missed it. I would not miss another opportunity again.
God, in His grace and mercy, presented me with another opportunity. He prepared me for it and He ministered to me through it despite myself. I mean, He had me thank Him beforehand and was patient when I tried to excuse myself! He honoured my prayer and chose to have me partner with Him in ministering to a lady who needed it and, in so doing, healed my heart that held regret over a missed opportunity. I look forward to more and more opportunities to learn more about who the Holy Spirit is as a person and to partnering with Him in my day-to-day life.
Do you have stories or thoughts to share about your relationship with the Holy Spirit? I’d love to hear them. Please share in the comment below.
iBloom for God 