Promptings

Within the last two weeks, the Spirit has prompted me twice.  I mean, listen!  He has nudged me in what I consider to be absolutely powerful and remarkable ways. 

I have marveled at these recent promptings because I have been so blessedly busy with final grades at MC, homeschooling, Will's wedding, and all manners of holiday cheering.  It is usually during such haste and rushing around and endless doing of my endless to-do lists that I tend not to hear His voice.

But not these two times.  My heart is so full that I must tell you how grateful I am for the Lord's promptings, how proud I am of the Husband of my heart, and how delighted I have been in my Provider.   

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If I told you how He prompted me and the subject of the promptings, you might not capture the magnificent significance in this single sojourner's life.  So I shall keep that information treasured in my heart.

Just how dowe overlay the practical with the spiritual? In other words, how does that which is spiritual affect that which is practical in our lives?  Could it be a mindset?  An attitude of the heart?  My guess is it might have something to do with prayer.  Some of us are in constant prayer with the Lord from the most mundane and otherwise insignificant decisions to those big-league mile-markers that change the direction of our lives. 

When God's Sprit prompted me, I had asked for help.  It was just that simple.  If we can trust God to lead and trust us with the daily, practical decisions we must make, can we be encouraged to trust Him with the big stuff? 

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I think of Nehemiah who was disposed to otherwise constant prayer.  It seemed to be how he was characterized, his common posture before the Lord.  In my Bible, I have highlighted  about 10 recorded times that Nehemiah prayed.  And each time the Lord answered Nehemiah.  He guided him and led him.  

I want to be a Nehemiah, seeking the Lord's favor and expecting the Lord to answer.  Nehemiah prayed and acted.  This is fascinating to me.  I am learning to pray and then go on with life.  Yes, sometimes our acting might involve waiting, but it seems to me that Nehemiah prayed with expectation of God's answer and full guidance.  From there, he carried forth his practical duties with boldness and with full trust in and reliance on the Lord to answer and guide him spiritually (as to those very practicalities).

Promptings will come as answers to prayer.  What a wonderful and reassuring way to "do" this thing called life.  God's Spirit is described as a "wind" and a "breath" for a reason.  Allow Him to prompt and guide you, to speak to you, to lead you in the direction He would have you go.  And may you and I both delight in His ways. 

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For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
Psalm 31:3