Hearing God...

I was having my devotions this morning, and, like the last few days, I've had a lot to think about and a lot to pray about (which slows down my getting around to reading...but that's another whole story). One of the things is the prospect of going to Detroit for my Urban Ministries class. Our purpose in going there is education about a number of different ministry opportunities, different ways of life, showing what the need is, and what God is already doing. Though that is the purpose, we will also have opportunities to reach out, and that scared me. I was terrified of the prospect of being in a city and not knowing really anything about the people that I would be coming in contact with and not knowing what to say or what not to say, or how to offer them the hope that is inside me, but wouldn't be in them--particularly because of the situations they've been in and I haven't and so on. I was so scared that it was even hard to bring up the topic to pray about... But... as I started writing out my prayer... (part of which you will get to read...) another thought broke in...

Me: God. I’m scared. I don’t really know what to expect, and I feel very disqualified to be reaching out to anyone. I don’t and won’t know what to say or do…

God: Hannah… why do you think that it is based on you? You ARE inadequate. YOU can’t do it. But, if you truly have given yourself to me, it wouldn’t be you saying or doing anything anyways. It would be Me. Hannah, remember that. Remember that you don’t have to do anything but be willing and to listen to My leading. It’s okay, do not fear. My perfect love is inside of you. Be willing, that is all that I ask… In your weakness I AM strong.

As those thoughts were coming... I felt a peace settle over me... I'm not scared anymore. I am willing to be used by God... (hey--if it's Him doing it, I know that what's going to be said and done will be the right thing!) and I know that as long as I am in His will... nothing will come up that He isn't prepared to deal with or hasn't known about for a very long time. He is capable and more than adequate. Why need I fear?

I share this because this is part of true relationship--sharing both ways. It is more than just reading a couple of books and getting things out of it, it is a relationship--sharing, giving, taking, mutual bonding, talking, encouraging, being together, when one is down the other lifts up, it goes both ways. This blog is a very small portion of that relationship, since I don't share much of my prayers on here, but when things like this happen, I want to encourage others by sharing it. God does speak, sometimes through His Word, sometimes through others, through books, media, His Truth anywhere, and sometimes in that still, small voice that one can only hear when one is crying out to God, and He answers back.