This past year, I have come to know just how important walking in the Spirit 24/7 is. We can not dependor rely on our hearts to carry us through life. Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? With out the Lord guiding our every step, we will go off the path He has intended for each of us. We need to be in constant fellowship with Him to ensure we are lining up with Him and His plan for us. There have been times in my life when I hear Him so clear and others that He remains silent. In the past, when there is that silence, I have failed too many times to count. I have learned we are not to rely on our feelings and emotions, but the TRUTH. And in that truth we are to keep seeking Him through prayer and intimate one on one time with Him to truly come to see what He is trying to show us.
One morning last fall, while in the word before I headed to work, I had the Lord speak to me so crystal clear I was knocked off my feet. He told me I was to start a bible study, that it would be on Monday nights, who He wanted me to have join, that I was to lead it, and who's house it would be at. First off, my head was spinning in circles with thoughts as to how this was even possible. We all work different hours, have different schedules, some with kids, some with out. We all live in complete different sides of town from Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Hillsboro, and Lake Oswego. And SINCE WHEN AM I someone that is capable or WORTHY of leading a bible study of young women? I mean ME Lord, really? But then, I rememebered this, if the Lord calls on you to do something, regardless of our own ideas, feelings, and opinions... when He calls you to it, you are to simply obey, and He will cover the rest! That morning I raised my hands up in surrender and said, "okay Lord, if this is of you... make it happen and I will obey." I immediately began making calls, and with in 2 hours, a bible study of young women was formed. Monday evenings ended up being the ONLY night that would work with everyone's schedules. The only house that would work was just indeed the one the Lord had laid on my heart. Since then, this bible study has been nothing but a blessing. I have had moments of discouragement, but God is faithful and continually is stretching and teaching me through all of this. He is making me a bolder disciple of for Him. But He does not always work in in that way. There will be periods of time in which he remains silent. After coming back from Haiti, my heart ached and longed to back in that beautiful country with it's beautiful people again. But I told myself that even though it was MY heart's desire to return, I would not do so unless it was what the Lord wanted of me. Someone told me that they did not think the desire would be there to return unless the Lord had put it there. Numerous times over the past few months "October" seemed to come up, but I still felt the need for more confirmation. I emailed the church a few months after my first trip to Haiti to inquire on things. They told me that they were only accepting people for the months September, October and November at this time. That comforted me a bit to know that things were aligning, but yet I still felt I needed more. The church listed me for October trip and I decided to let God reveal and confirm things to me more in the meantime. Well this past week I took a week off, and Thursday afternoon I recieved a phone call from the person leading the October trip calling to introduce himself to me, tell me when the first meeting was, and we started talking a bit. Through conversation I came to tell him that I went back in April as well. When he heard that news, he explained to me how big of a blessing that would be because there are a lot of woman going on this trip that are around my same age, and are a little apprehensive about going for various reasons. He proceeded to tell me at the next meeting if it is okay he would like my help answering questions for these women and on the duration of the trip he will probably rely on me a tad more since I have experience on things. After all of this happened, it was as if I was hit by a wave of instant peace about returning. A peace that I had not yet had until that point. Confirmation from the Lord has become absolutely HUGE in my life whether it being a big or small thing. It is imperative to seek confirmation from the Lord before we act. In doing so we strengthen our faith and it also ensures we are working with Him to build up His Kingdom.
Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
In Him, Nicole Elizabeth
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