Well … what can I say but – God is Good!

As previously mentioned, we are running a group called “Sitting at the Feet of the Father”.  It’s all about hearing from God for ourselves and for others.  It’s about identity first, and then going and doing His will for us from that place of being fully loved, and full of His love.

Last Tuesday night we discussed Words of Knowledge and as we did I felt God prompt me to do an activation with the group, in other words, stop talking about it and DO it.

I actually prefer to stop for people as I go – no lists.  I find the idea of doing a list of words of knowledge from God and looking for a treasure (the person to whom they apply) a bit challenging … I could get it wrong people! Yes – I am a reformed perfectionist and can suffer from performance anxiety. But I knew if I was leading the group to do them, then I needed to do the exercise too.

We all sat quietly and asked God for words about people, me included.

The first part of my list was:

red cardigan

blue bag

Cindy

Mentone (a suburb near us)

Monday

Out walking on streets, sunshine

And I saw a picture of a local barbers shop located on a corner

It’s Monday here in Australia.  So this morning, remembering my list (which I have been carrying around with me) I asked God about timing of my walk in Mentone in the sunshine (and yes people it is sunny today – although cold).

I felt Him say to drop my son at school, go home do a few chores and then head out at 10am.  I want you all to know – I am crazy busy and under the pump with work (that is a whole new God is Good story but crazy stretching testimony), a mother in hospital and many children commitments, and today, my husband is interstate for work, so it’s all on me today.  Did I have time – no!  Did I want to find the treasure – yes!  I had a time frame and I knew that I may miss the treasure and it would be on me if I missed it if I was not obedient.

I headed out a little late.  I could feel His desire for me to be out on the streets, and I hurried to get out.  I looked up and down, asking Him as I went where to go.  I had a picture when I got the words of knowledge – that I would see her outside a particular barber shop.  I knew I was late for the “appointment”, so I listened, having apologised to Him for my being late.

I looked up and down the street … checking bag colours, checking cardigan colours … I followed a woman with a blue bag who was wearing a coat – I needed to see if she had a red cardigan … she didn’t and I didn’t get a positive “go for it” in my spirit with her even though she didn’t completely fill the list.

He had said go to the post office, so I did, continually looking for her, and looking for my other words of knowledge: a mum in blue jeans with two kids, one in a pram, who is seeking answers to questions/issues from the past; a man called Frank who worked in the trades, who has cancer (I think testicular – that may be a tough one), God wants to heal him; … my list goes on …

I walked out of the Post Office and looked into a coffee shop as I walked up the street – a woman in a head-dress in a red cardigan, but I couldn’t see her bag.  I walked up to the corner of the street again and back and looked in, and walked into the shop, trying to see her bag.  I still couldn’t see her bag so I gently interrupted her and her friend saying:

Excuse me.  I’m a Christian and I’m practising hearing from God, and I have this list (I showed it to the red cardigan woman and her friend) and I saw you had a red cardigan on … is your name Cindy? and then I saw she didn’t have a blue bag,  but she said:

My name is “Seemi” …

I thought “close enough” Cindy … Seemi …  I said explained my list (see Kevin Dedmon’s book Crossing the Chicken Line on how to get a list), and I asked could I pray for her. I found out she was from Pakistan (I assumed a Muslim because of her head scarf, but she may have been of another faith I could not be sure).

She said “yes” I could pray, so I crouched down, popped my hand on her arm gently and prayed.  As I did more information came, more words of knowledge about her so I prayed what I heard – that she was making some major decisions, that she wasn’t sure what to do, I asked God to guide her, I thanked God that He knew her and loved her, and I prayed for wisdom, great wisdom as she decided.

She looked at me and asked: How do you know all that?

I responded that I listened to God.  That we can all hear from God. I showed her my list.  I explained why I was out. That he had sent me out at 10am (although I had run late) and that He loved her enough to send me to pray for her, to let her know that He knew  her and He loved her … I asked if she had been on the street before (and mentioned where I had seen) and she said “yes”.

I had a feeling about some more details, but I felt to not share what I discerned, I felt that God wanted her privacy to be kept, that I was to just let her know that He knew she was making these decisions and that it had been a really tough time making them.  I felt the information would be too full on to disclose in that setting.  I also felt she had a child that would be impacted, so I asked if she had children.

She had a son.

I prayed for her decisions again and asked God that the peace that surpasses all knowledge and understanding would guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7), and that peace would be her guide (Col 3:15).

I asked how old her child was when I was done.  7 she said.

And so I invited her to our church movie days in the coming school holidays telling her it would be a safe environment, she could have a cup of tea or coffee, meet some people and he could be looked after for a couple of hours – she could stay or leave him she could choose.  I gave her the details, and also gave her my name and number so she could call me if she wanted.

I looked at the woman (an Australian woman) who was with her – she had teared up.

I thanked them both for letting me pray, and as I started to wind it up, she looked and said:

God loves me? She looked astounded …

I replied yes: God loves you, He knows you and He loves you very very much.

I gave her a hug and left …

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness–secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. (Is 45:3)

I found my treasure on my treasure hunt list – well one at least.  I’m looking for the others, and even if I don’t find them all, I know He will delight in the fact that I am even looking, giving it a go, because it’s not just about them out there (although that is a very significant important part of it) but it is also about me, getting closer, leaning in and hearing His heart beat …. it’s about the intimacy because He loves me too …

and He loves you …

We can all go and do, especially if we know how loved we are … and He will lead us to those that are hidden in the darkness for us because …

God is Good!

Please leave your testimonies of your successes below for us to share and be encouraged – any remember that every attempt (regardless of outcome) is a success because it’s about the journey of learning, not about the notches on our belt … it’s about our relationship with Him, and our journey as we work with Him to reconcile the world to Him, and that is purely because … God is Good!