Lately it seems like God is really taking the extra effort to speak to me through people, while also using me to speak to others. Over the last few weeks, there have been people who have consistently come and spoken things to me in times of great need or relevance to my current place in life, including those who have approached me and told me things right out of the blue like "You need to be bold, stop worrying about other people opinions", and then other friends speak similar things, followed by random scripture readings that speak the same, and then a sermon from the pastor on the topic matter.
People have come to me with random statements of encouragement and stories that have deeply affected my heart. It is impossible to deny that God has ordained it that I should interact with certain people and to hear sermons, stories, and specific conversations to bring about change in my life in a very direct way...in a very personal, as well as obvious way. I cannot say that God's working in my life has been this apparent in quite some time. It is a joyful thing for me to have been in this season for the last month, and I find it difficult to accept that soon I will have to move back into seasons of silence and faith before too long, but I will not worry about the silence that lies before me. Instead I will enjoy the now, and accept the guidance, love, and discipline for Christ while I am allowed to yet hear and see. In this I know that God is preparing me and strengthening me. He did not end my life, but instead has rewarded me with the relief and comfort of His being near, so that I might continue to serve in the dark places of the world.
When I was 16-17 years old, I was actively a part of a prayer team that met every Saturday night to pray for the life of the Church. One night I was approached by an older woman that I didn't know, but had seen at the meetings quite frequently. She told me that she had seen a vision of me standing in the middle of Darkness surrounded by people. I turned the only section of wall visible and grabbed a torch from it. This torch was the only source of light around. She then stated that I raised the torch into the air and ran...I ran into the darkness all who were with me chased after me, and as I ran I came upon others and I grabbed them from the darkness; they too followed behind me as I ran with the torch. I am often reminded of that night when she told me of her vision, and whether or not she spoke in Spirit or in Flesh, I have been consistently reminded of it and inspired to keep going because of that vision.
I pray that I am strong enough to endure, but even more than that: to be able to carry others through their struggles and pains and bring Light to those that have none. I want to be that man that runs in the darkness; I believe that that is the person God is changing me into.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
People have come to me with random statements of encouragement and stories that have deeply affected my heart. It is impossible to deny that God has ordained it that I should interact with certain people and to hear sermons, stories, and specific conversations to bring about change in my life in a very direct way...in a very personal, as well as obvious way. I cannot say that God's working in my life has been this apparent in quite some time. It is a joyful thing for me to have been in this season for the last month, and I find it difficult to accept that soon I will have to move back into seasons of silence and faith before too long, but I will not worry about the silence that lies before me. Instead I will enjoy the now, and accept the guidance, love, and discipline for Christ while I am allowed to yet hear and see. In this I know that God is preparing me and strengthening me. He did not end my life, but instead has rewarded me with the relief and comfort of His being near, so that I might continue to serve in the dark places of the world.
When I was 16-17 years old, I was actively a part of a prayer team that met every Saturday night to pray for the life of the Church. One night I was approached by an older woman that I didn't know, but had seen at the meetings quite frequently. She told me that she had seen a vision of me standing in the middle of Darkness surrounded by people. I turned the only section of wall visible and grabbed a torch from it. This torch was the only source of light around. She then stated that I raised the torch into the air and ran...I ran into the darkness all who were with me chased after me, and as I ran I came upon others and I grabbed them from the darkness; they too followed behind me as I ran with the torch. I am often reminded of that night when she told me of her vision, and whether or not she spoke in Spirit or in Flesh, I have been consistently reminded of it and inspired to keep going because of that vision.
I pray that I am strong enough to endure, but even more than that: to be able to carry others through their struggles and pains and bring Light to those that have none. I want to be that man that runs in the darkness; I believe that that is the person God is changing me into.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
