Finding God's Presence ~ The Miracle Is In The Walking

by Nan Jones   @NanJonesAuthor

Morning dawned way before I wanted it to. I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to face another day. I felt tired. Disheartened. Unsure of my future.

And I didn't know if I could accomplish the task God had called me to. I felt insecure and very inadequate.

I grabbed some coffee and turned on the television. God TV was airing a women's conference from Hillsong in Australia. Bobbie Houston, the pastor's wife, was speaking.

But really, God was speaking to me through her.

Bobbie began with the proclamation, "God wants to seed, water, and harvest things in your life. You have His permission to pioneer the things He has put in you."

I sat up a little straighter. For several days I had been questioning my abilities as my body succumbed to a massive fibromyalgia flare. God has gifted me as a writer and a speaker, and called me to strengthen and encourage Christian women struggling with their faith because of life's hardships. He has called me to minister to pastors' wives who feel like no one understands. And now, here I am struggling to get out of bed, broken and weary because my marriage has ended.

But God.

But God met me on this lonely road and spoke life into my bones in direct response to my prayers.

Bobbie Houston's message began with Jude 20-21, MSG:

"But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love..."

She continued on to Jude 22-23:

"Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin..."

Bobbie's exhortation was to be mission-minded. Her words were of no coincidence as she sowed into my life. The Spirit of God stirred within me, Remain mission-minded Nan. Take My love to a hurting world. Help me set the captives free. You are complete in Me.

I sat on the couch amazed at the goodness of the Lord. He had heard my cry for reassurance.

And then it got even better.

Bobbie's message moved to the beginning of Jude, verses 1 and 2, again from The Message:

"I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything's going to be alright; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!"

Relax. Everything's going to be alright.
Rest. Everything's coming together;
Open your hearts. Love is on the way!

Not only is love - God - on the way to meet our needs, but Bobbie encouraged the audience to think of it as "love is on - going along with us - the way." In other words, Jesus said, "I AM the way, the truth and the life." All that Jesus is - all that His love represents - is actually going along the way of our lives with us ... if we keep going. Our lives are like a road, a pilgrimage, a journey. As we press on - as we keep walking and don't give up, we will encounter all that His love represents.

Everything the Lord has purchased for us is in the walking: goodness, wisdom, peace, empowerment, provision, weaponry...

But we must press on.

Jesus said, "Follow Me."

He is on the path ahead of us, paving the way. He waits when we need to catch up. He comes alongside when we need for Him to hold our hand. At times he slips behind us when we need a rearguard as the enemy pursues.

The miracle is in the walking.

In the walking we collide with everything He has for us.

Relax, everything's going to be alright.
Rest, everything's coming together.
Open your hearts, love is on the way!

SELAH

A Tweetable to Encourage Others

Where is God in my insecurities? @NanJonesAuthor offers a glimpse. (Click to Tweet)

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Releasing 
June 30, 2015! 

I cherish your prayers. 


If you're a pastor's wife struggling with your calling, The Perils of a Pastor's Wife presents a lifeline of hope and encouragement.

Sweet sister, somewhere, somehow, someone knows.