Sometimes I pray long and hard about certain issues… the kind of prayers that go on and on and on. And then I’ll hear God, and his message is short and clear and to the point, and it makes perfect sense.
It’s like we’re texting, but his side doesn’t have errors or random craziness.
Example: I’m in bed praying, feeling discouraged, or encouraged, or remorseful, or joyful and it’s so intense that I have to get out of bed and kneel down and pray about it. (Have you ever done that?) Then as soon as I stop to take a breath: Rise.
And I climb back into bed feeling comforted. Somehow in the word “Rise,” I know he has heard my prayer and it is done.
Or when I prayed for months and months about going back to work or staying home with the kids before maternity leave ended. I kept hearing him say: Trust me.
ME: Should I give notice? What about medical benefits?
HIM: Trust me.
ME: Let me know how you want me to proceed Lord.
HIM: Follow.
ME: Ok Lord, I will wait on you.
HIM: 🙂
The answer is there, but not always as detailed as I’d like.
What does he mean by “Trust Me” exactly? How do I go about doing that when I have to meet with my manager tomorrow? Etc. etc.
(Psst… His word is forever faithful: 15 Prayer Text Messages)
And there are so many good examples in the Bible. This is how I’d imagine a “text” between Moses and God during the burning bush incident (Exodus 3:4-14)…
GOD: Moses!
MOSES: Here I am.
GOD: Take off sandals. Holy ground…
GOD: My people are miserable in Egypt. Go down & bring them out.
MOSES: Me?
GOD: I’ll be with you. You’ll worship me here when you’re back.
MOSES: How?
GOD: Tell them “I AM” sent you.
And we know how that story ends.
He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert. (Acts 7:36)
In what could have seemed like absurdity, awkwardness and impossible victories, God provided, lead the way and kept his word.
Granted, God did give Moses further details about how to address the elders and Pharaoh. He did provide signs, like turning his staff into a snake. But he does this for us too, ultimately. Maybe we don’t always recognize the signs.
As I’m learning, when we hear from God–even when it seems like he’s sending us the condensed, text-message version–we just have to follow with the discernment he has given us. It takes faith; it takes wisdom. Both come from him.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)
Love the text prayer messaages and how true that we can go back and forth with God on subjects of our hearts and life :). Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks Sarah — it’s so funny how many different ways we can hear from Him.
I love this message. The LORD already knows how we learn best… we just have to learn to hear His promptings to see them. I started with snip-its of His word, which grew into books… now and then the snip-it hits home once again… thanks Jen.