God will speak to each of us in different ways and in different seasons for His purpose. “One time” I learned to trust His voice. Here are a few of those stories. Our stories will be beautifully unique. And the more we learn to hear and listen to His voice the more our stories are going to be endless.
The Single Guy
One time, I approached a single guy in a bookstore with a smile and a hello. Approaching single guys with a smile and a hello ended after I got married. It had been a couple of years; I was out of my game. But this man stood there, alone and visibly hopeless. As I got closer, I noticed he was staring at the Religious section. “I don’t know what your question is, but I know the answer is Jesus,” spilled from my nervous smile. Starting up conversations with single guys may not be my normal, but it is God’s. God touched that man’s heart that day; I was just simply there. Often this man crosses my heart. Often this man is laid at the foot of the cross.
Linda
One time, the Lord asked me to approach a stranger after a church event and to call her Linda. Not knowing her face or name, I confidently proclaimed a heartfelt, “Hey, Linda!” This stranger looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I needed to know that someone knew who I was.” I had never seen this woman before. Confidently calling women by name may not be my comfort zone, but it is God’s. Such a small, nerve-wracking moment in my life touched the heart of this woman in a way God knew she needed at that very moment.
Patiently Listening
One time, I learned about a tv show called, Dr. Who, for a solid hour. This girl sitting before me talked eagerly all about her infatuation with this show. I had nothing to add to the conversation, for I had no clue as to who Dr. Who may be. However, once she trickled her excitement to a close, she thanked me for just listening to her. When she thanked me for simply listening to her talk about a tv show, God nudged my heart.
When this girl said to me that it was my turn to talk and hers to listen. I knew what God was nudging. She introduced me to Dr. Who, then I got to introduce her to Jesus Christ. I may not enjoy long, television show conversations, but God does. For in those long moments of listening, someone feels like their words matter. And they do. They matter to Jesus.
Then there was the first time.
I was 16 years old, flying from Las Vegas to New York by myself. I was sitting in the middle seat. Doing what I do when I got scared, I pulled out my Bible and buried myself in the comforts of my favorite words. Sitting between me and the window, sat a man named Bart. Bart raised his glass of whiskey at me with a kind smile and nod of acknowledgment. I didn’t know Bart, nor did I know Jack. But God did.
This man asked me questions throughout our flight together. And I answered each one. Some of his answers I could answer out of my love and knowledge of the Scripture. Some of his questions were answered with statements bigger than me. You see, as soon as Bart asked a question, an answer rang within me that made sense, so I said it out loud to a stranger as a 16-year-old. Jesus was the topic of conversation throughout this flight. One day, I will see Bart again because God met him where he was through the innocence of a 16-year-old girl.
It’s About Jesus!
Each of these moments were a one-time snapshot in my life. They grew me in my willingness to trust the Lord’s voice without changing my habits or my opinions or altering my personal convictions. Because none of these moments were about me. They were not about wine or single men or tv shows or calling strangers by their name or whiskey. These moments were about individual people that matter to Jesus.
~ This is an excerpt pulled from chapter nine of Judged Not: Living your Life in the Freedom of Judgment.
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