We are currently running a connect group called “Sitting at the Feet of the Father”.  The purpose of this group is to encourage others (and ourselves) to fully step into our identity in Christ, and in doing so, not only will we lead a love filled, victorious life in Christ, but we will be blessed to be a blessing.  Being filled with God’s love cannot but overflow to those around us as we go!

Graham Cooke’s many teachings (both free resources and bought) at Brilliant Perspectives has been, well … brilliant!

Last night we wrote double-blind prophetic words for people we did not know (they were mature Christian who knew what we were doing so they were a safe place to land).  It was time to step out of the boat.  Giving lovely words to one another within the safety of the group is one thing, but to turn our gaze outwards, to others we don’t know, well that spells “R.I.S.K” which when its God directed is actually called FAITH.  We look forward to hearing about the impact of the words soon.

I have no doubt that God is good, and that He wants to speak to us more than we want to hear Him.  I also have no doubt that God is good and that He wants to speak to us about others, more than we want to hear Him.

Last Sunday, our pastor was preaching on the kindness, on the love of God.  My daughter had a friend at church, who subsequently sobbed and gave her heart to Christ.  My daughter had said that this friend was her “one” that God had highlighted to her as the one she would lead to Christ un this season (our church has a program currently called “everyone lead one”).

One of the members of our connect group, who I will call John, said he was also touched deeply by the message.  That same day, while leaving a local shopping centre, having grown in listening and obeying, he saw a busker who, in his view, wasn’t that good at busking – but God wanted John to bless the busker with everything John had in his wallet.  John argued, he resisted, he said to God “$2 is enough”.  However, God was adamant and John knew that he was to give the busker everything he had in his wallet.  John argued some more, and said “I’ll give him $2” and even went to get the change from his car, but God would not let up, so John obeyed, and gave the busker everything he had in his wallet.  John said the busker was quite overwhelmed.

I call that a “win”!

John heard from God.  He obeyed God.  He blessed a man busking, and even though he did not pray, preach, teach or even mention Jesus, I believe that John left a fragrance of Heaven, that changed the atmosphere, and that the fragrance left will stay with the busker to recognise again, it was an encounter with the generosity and love of God, for the busker, and for John.  For we do not battle “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12 NIV).  Fruit of the Spirit practised and grown is warfare in the Spirit … it shifts atmospheres and changes realities.

What is God asking you to do?

Could you pay for the next person’s coffee in the line at the coffee shop?  Just whisper the instructions to the person at the til, and feel the atmosphere shift around you.

Could you buy a homeless person some groceries?  A single mum in our group did that recently, she didn’t know if it was in direct obedience to a God prompting, she just felt to do it.  I suggested that she was listening and moving as the Spirit directed, without her even knowing it. She left the fragrance of God.

Could you leave a gift on the step of someone you know that is struggling with an emotional challenge, or that may be lonely?

What about asking God for a simple word of encouragement?  Write it down on a card, and pop it into the person’s letter box.  If that is too hard, or takes up too much time, text it, and let the person know you (and God) are thinking about them.  And if someone does come to mind – don’t forget to pray for them too!

Or could you even offer to pray for the one you walk by on the street, the one that God highlights to you as needing prayer?  Can you feel His nudge? Can you hear His gentle prompting?  He loves you with a furious love; and He loves those you walk past every day with a similarly furious love too.

I trust that as you stop and ask God who He would like to encourge, He will show you someone, and I encourage you to listen and obey, and as you do I know both you and the person will be blessed because …

God is Good!

 

 

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