Hi all, here we are with Week 38. This week, John shares with us on how he hears from God and the waiting period that often comes along with it. His words encourage me that God is always preparing us in the wait and that his timing is perfect.
I hear from God through thoughts, ideas and feelings. For instance, I ask God a question, I pause to wait for an answer, and often, a thought comes into my head which may or may not be from God. It does involve discernment to know: is it just me thinking, is it God, or is this thought actually quite sinister. To safeguard against this, I try to read and know the Bible, so that if the thought that comes to mind contradicts Scripture, then I shouldn't follow it.
Sometimes, Scripture neither confirms nor opposes the idea. In this case, I go with the idea/thought that comes into my head. Sometimes I make mistakes, and if I do, I try to go easy on myself. If the thought or idea involves some significant life change, I typically pray over it for a lot longer, and seek the counsel of others. Sometimes God speaks more persistently and more directly over a longer period of time.
One of the biggest examples of this was to do with prison ministry. Years ago, I believed that I had a calling to work with ex-offenders, to help them up on their feet when they were released. It was on my heart (like the thought/ideas mentioned earlier, but for a much longer time). I went for training to work in this ministry but after training, the doors seemed to completely close. I was so upset. In times of fasting and prayer I believe that God spoke to me, saying 'not yet.' He wanted me to serve him for the long haul. If I served him then, and then burnt out after a year, that would be nowhere near as effective as waiting for the right season and then serving for decades.
Finally, it just so happened that through one of the ministries that I was involved in, that I was coming across many people who had been through the justice system. The skills I'd learned half a decade earlier started to come into use. I am now building relationships with people who have made mistakes, been punished for them, but who are now trying to move on and put the pieces of their life back. It is a tremendous privilege to be able to encourage them in their journey.
In the instance that I have related, it took a very long time for God to work through, and make happen what I had felt he was calling me into. If you are going through that waiting period - I know that it can be irritating, but when you arrive, when you start walking in the calling, you almost forget about the waiting period.
John is a father of 4 beautiful children (with one more on the way). He teaches in a primary school and is a lay leader of services in his local church.
Thank you all so much for reading this story about God connecting with his people. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Until next time,
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