Listen To The Nudges

A few years ago I was standing in Belk catching up with a friend from church. I noticed a lady walk by and glance at us and keep going. She turned around and came back, smiling. After a moment she asked if either of us had a physical illness. I said, 'I do.' She said, 'is it cancer?' I said, 'yes, breast cancer.' She then asked if we were Christians and we said yes. Then she said we would understand when the Lord asks you to do something you have to obey (This was her way of saying, 'I know you think I am crazy but...') and we agreed. Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Now this lady probably thought she was going shopping but God had other plans. Proverbs 15: 8, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." She said as she walked by first, God told her that she was walking among cancer and then He told her to go back to that person. I asked her what He said. She said she didn't know yet. He just told her to come back. You could tell she was not sure if we would think she was crazy or how we would receive her but I felt she was genuine. We stood, blocking traffic, in this main aisle of Belk on a Thanksgiving weekend. Finally, she asked if I would put my hand on her arm and I did. She began praying and asking God to bless me. She praised God over and over. Then she rebuked the cancer in my body, in Jesus' name. You know me, I was in tears - joyful tears.

The book of Acts is full of ways that the Holy Spirit spoke and nudged along believers. There are visits by angels, visions and dreams and the voice of the Holy Spirit. I believe God is nudging me all the time. The problem is I am not in tune all the time! God used this lady in so many ways. Maybe for the passersby who witnessed what was going on. Maybe for life lessons for she and I. Maybe He wanted me to know He was thinking about me and others were praying for me. Maybe He was teaching me to be quiet and listen, then go witness, even if it is uncomfortable. Romans 1: 16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."