Listen Up

On week-ends when our children were small, I could often escape to a quiet place with a book, since "Daddy" was home to help man the stations. As I was reading alone on the patio one Sunday afternoon, I heard a voice say, "Go to Linda's." I went. Knocking on her door, I had no idea what I would find. It seems she had just received a phone call from her mother, saying that her daddy had suffered a heart attack and wasn't expected to live. Could she get there as soon as possible? The grief and distress were overwhelming her, as she tried to gather clothes, pack, wash, arrange air travel, etc. I know that what happened next was more of a surprise to me than to her. I placed both hands firmly on her shoulders, to stop the frenetic activity, I suppose, and stated with all authority, "Linda, your daddy is not going to die, he's not going to die." Immediately, she calmed. It's funny, but I even gave a quick look over my shoulder to see who could've made this statement with such conviction. Even as I spoke, some part of me was saying, "you don't know that. Of course, it was the Lord, speaking to one daughter through another, for only God could have known. You see, her father didn't die. For me, it was a most dramatic example of how God knows what is going on under every roof, and cares, deeply. Trembling as I left, I began to realize what a privilege had been accorded me in bringing His message to my friend.

3 Hebrews 11.8 - It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go.

Acts 9.10-11 - The Lord said to him, "Ananias!" "Here I am, Lord," he answered. The Lord said, "go to Straight Street and at the house of Judas ask for a man named Saul."

Matthew 10.20 - It won't be you doing the talking - it will be the Spirit of your heavenly Father speaking through you.

Daniel 2.22 - He reveals things that are deep and secret.

Zechariah 9.1 - The Lord is closely watching all mankind.

Jeremiah 23.23,24 - Am I a God who is only in one place and cannot see what they are doing? Am I not everywhere in all heaven and earth?

Psalm 139.1 - How precious it is, Lord, to realize you are thinking about me constantly.

Psalm 85.8 - I am listening carefully to all the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his people.