I also keep a water bowl downstairs, up on a counter. After litter pan scooping and treats, I call out, “Who wants fresh water?” and rinse out the bowl and refill it. This is a big deal for Gideon who likes to drink the water off of his paw, similar to the way three hundred men did who were chosen for his namesake’s army, the biblical Gideon.

One morning Cammie beat him to the water bowl. I must have been extra groggy, because evidently I didn’t announce the fresh water for his highness, Gideon. Cammie daintily lapped up some of it, and then Gideon noticed that she was in “his spot”. Shoving her out of the way, he sat. And sat. And sat. He looked at me as if to say, “Have you lost your mind, woman? Where’s my fresh water?”

Have you ever tried reasoning with an animal? I tried; it didn’t work. There Gideon sat, on his throne, staring at me, waiting for his fresh water.

Grumbling, I poured the perfectly fresh water into the sink and made a show of refilling the bowl. Gideon was meowing up a storm as I set Fresh Water 2.0 in front of him. Happy, he pawed it and drank his fill.

And then as soon as Gideon shut up, the Lord began talking. He showed me that even though the cat had already been given fresh water, he didn’t believe it. Gideon expected his water to arrive a certain way every day or he’d have nothing to do with it; he expected a showy presentation.

We believers have a tendency to be like Gideon if we aren’t careful. We have fresh, life-giving water available 24/7 in the pages of God’s Word, ready for the drinking, and yet so often we search here and there to “get a fresh word”. Like Gideon, we want to sit at the water bowl, refusing to drink until we get some showy presentation. Instead of majoring on drinking from the Word ourselves, we want to know “But what does Brother or Sister So and So have to say about it?” In other words, we wait for someone else to serve our water; all too often we don’t trust that the Bible water we get on our own is “fresh”.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s imperative to join regularly in fellowship with others to hear the Word. But what about in between these “pit stops”?

If the only water you drink is from another person’s hand once or twice a week, be careful—you’re in grave danger of dehydration. And by the same token, if your primary source for spiritual edification is random “words” from various people, you may not be getting true water at all! There is only one “sure word of prophecy” and that’s the Bible, sitting right there on your table or desk. Don’t be afraid to open it on your own and drink long and often. It’s guaranteed fresh, 24/7.

It’s sort of cute when Gideon the cat expects a showy presentation before he’s willing to drink his fresh water. But for grown Christians to search for a “word from God” everywhere except their own Bible? That’s not cute. That’s dangerous.

Dorothy

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

Consider this concerning culture’s obvious disregard for God or anything to do with His Word: God is not an impatient God; He’s known as the Ancient of Days and has seen and heard everything. He has witnessed philosophies rise and fall, religious and political leaders come and go, and revolutions fire up and die out. No empire has outlived Him; no godless paradigm has befuddled or outwitted Him. The nations are as a drop in the bucket to Him.

Consider this concerning your place in the grand scheme of things: a house is not built in a day; your own life is composed of one small decision after another. Likewise, your spiritual life is built over years—one thought, one decision, one action at a time. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus clearly emphasized this fact when He taught about building a house on the rock. He compared the person who heard His Word and acted upon it to a wise builder who anchored his house on a stable foundation of rock, enabling it to withstand any storm that blew its way.

The pressure to conform to values that fly in the face of the Word of God is designed to force you to throw away your faith in God’s standards. If you were to believe in elves, unicorns, or goddesses, do you think the pressure to conform would be as great? Certainly not. But why is that?

The reasons are many. Here are a few:

A foundationless soul is an easily deceived and easily controlled soul.

• Stability. The Word of God gives you a strong foundation upon which to build your life. Storms come to everyone. Sometimes things don’t turn out as you had hoped or even prayed, but you have an anchor in your life despite those things—an anchor that will not move with a changing culture, an anchor which will endure forever. The alternative to building on the rock is building on sand—banking on the current popular mindsets and sophisticated progressive agendas that have all the appearance of tolerance and freedom. However, storms will still rage, and a house built on the sand collapses quickly—“and great was its fall” (Matthew 7:27b). A foundationless soul is an easily deceived and easily controlled soul.

If you’re linked up to God’s Word, you are linked up to His power. And His power cannot be controlled by the laws and constraints of men.

• Power. According to Luke 4:32, “…[the people of Capernaum] were amazed at His teaching, for His word was with authority and ability and weight and power” (Amp). The power that manifested through Jesus’ words back then is still alive and active in His Word now (see Hebrews 4:12). Why would that be of any concern in today’s culture? Because if you’re linked up to God’s Word, you are linked up to His power. And His power cannot be controlled by the laws and constraints of men. Therefore, great attempts are being made to separate you from your faith in His Word, rendering you unable to access His power. But remember, it is by the Word of God’s power that He upholds all things (see Hebrews 1:3)—and that includes you!

The Word of God is neither a vague philosophy on one hand nor a set of suggestions for polite society on the other. It has the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel and the accuracy of a marksman’s arrow.

• Precision. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV). The Word of God is neither a vague philosophy on one hand nor a set of suggestions for polite society on the other. The Word of God has the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel and the accuracy of a marksman’s arrow. It does not miss the mark, ever, and it alone is able to pierce cleanly to the division of soul and spirit. Philosophy can only guess at the thoughts of the heart; the suggestions of a polite society can never redeem the attitudes of the heart. God’s Word, in your mouth and in your heart, can arise in the midst of chaos, turmoil, despair, and seeming defeat to bring critical deliverance and change to your life, your neighborhood, your nation, and your world. It shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (see John 1:5). This is why the Word is so maligned by those who hate God in this hour.

In Jesus’ time, He was viciously accused of being a fraud and possessed by the devil. After a particularly intense assault against His message, He asked His disciples, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” (John 6:67b). Don’t be surprised if He asks you the same thing when you are confronted by our culture’s open mockery of His Word. He is merely testing you—will you cling to Him despite the disdain of a godless society? In response, let yours be the resolve of Peter in John 6:68. “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life.”

When the world around you calls into question your intelligence or sanity because of your faith in God’s Word, remember this. His Word brings stability, releases power, and has precision accuracy. Where else could you go? He has the words of eternal life!

Dorothy

1.)    Jesus told His disciples about the time following His resurrection, “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you” (John 16:23). That means that when you ask for your specific need to be met, you ask the Father in Jesus’ name.

2.)    To underscore just how powerful His name is, Philippians 2:9-11 states, “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” When you pray and use the name of Jesus in faith and reverent love, you operate in His authority and have direct access to the Father.

3.)    The name of Jesus is both powerful and highly exalted. But watch out—according to the psalmist David, something is higher yet! “…Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name” (Psalm 138:2b). The Word of God is even higher than His name!

Using these Scriptures, you can establish the following in your heart:

a.)    You can ask anything, believing in His name, and it is done for you.

b.)    At His name every knee will bow.

c.)     And yet He has exalted His Word above that beautiful and powerful name! Have confidence when you use the name of Jesus in prayer; have confidence when you exalt His Word in prayer. The power-team of His name and His Word gives you the victor’s edge as you stand your ground.

Scriptures for finances:  [Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures are taken from NASB.]

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38; NIV)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)

The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; and let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27)

I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing. (Psalm 37:25-26)

Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. (Proverbs 10:22)

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22)

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:24-25)

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

These are just some of the verses contained in the Bible concerning finances. Prayerfully consider these truths, let the Holy Spirit make them alive in your heart, and obey Him as you pray in faith and follow His leading.

May the Lord bless you richly,

Dorothy

Tomorrow: Special 9/11 tribute

Monday: Tithing

In November of 2007, the Lord told me: The lifestyle to which many have grown accustomed will become greatly challenged. I shared this warning with a few close friends and sought God about how to be personally prepared. At the time, those with whom I shared had, for the most part, a “wait and see” attitude. I understood that stance—the Lord had spoken to me, not to them.

One person, however, more or less corrected me—he thought my statement indicated fear and a total lack of faith. I realized something as a result of that encounter. Not everyone will believe that you have heard from God—especially when it’s less than positive information. Did I write him off? Of course not. He’s my brother in Christ, loves the body of Christ, and has a zeal for souls. Just because someone doesn’t agree with you on an issue does not necessitate a cold shoulder or broken fellowship!

As I walked through the steps I believed God gave me to be prepared for the challenging times ahead, I shared what I was doing with different friends I trusted. Again, God speaks to each one’s heart. Just because someone tells you what they believe the Lord is showing them, that doesn’t mean you have to “buy” it. You need to seek God for yourself. I strongly believe that the Spirit of God is more than capable of making His wisdom known to each one who wants to hear. The Bible says it this way: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

This is especially true now in September of 2015. Don’t be led by other people’s revelation. Stay in the Word and listen to God for yourself.

A while back as I prayed for various friends and acquaintances who were experiencing serious financial difficulty, I felt that they were to take the specific Scripture(s) God would give them for income and employment. They were to use that Word to take their stand in prayer and confession over their finances. He said that those key verses would act like hammers, swords, and battering rams in the spiritual realm around them, and as they stood their ground, He would come through for them.

You, too, are to take those specific Scriptures which the Holy Spirit makes alive to you as your weapon. Then, with those Scriptures, you, also stand your ground on behalf of your finances. If you haven’t found a verse that fits your situation, I will be sharing a list of verses later this week from which I have drawn confidence and courage to trust God. Tomorrow I will share with you some of the things I went through while trusting God for secure employment after I stepped out in obedience to Him, leaving behind a good job to move to a city where I had nothing awaiting me.

Each one of us faces different circumstances; you may receive different Bible verses than your brother or sister; but all of us have the same Word of God from which to seek His personal and precise direction for our situations. Not only that, but each one of us also has the right to confidently trust Him to see us through every obstacle—from small bumps in the road to bottomless pits of despair!

Stand fast on the verses the Holy Spirit has given you. If you haven’t received those perfect verses yet, the adventure of discovering His leading is awaiting you—and will be well worth the effort!

If you currently enjoy secure finances, sow in prayer for those who don’t. God will hear from heaven and answer you on behalf of others. And by praying for them, you will store up for yourself all the prayer help you’ll ever need against the hour of your trouble!

God bless you richly,

Dorothy

Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her. Proverbs 8:10-11

Part of my purpose in sharing these events is to focus on one thing I’ve learned by trial and error—no two methods of deliverance will be exactly alike. Trust me—I’ve tried to use the method you’ll read about in the following account as my go-to “deliverance-from-danger” formula, but God wasn’t having it. More on that tomorrow.

Here’s the main thing I’ve learned. When you are confronted with impending trouble or disaster, you must lean heavily upon the Spirit of God. He always has a way of escape for you; your job is to stay hooked up with Him in childlike trust to find out what—if anything—He wants you to do. When you are facing sudden danger, you must let Him lead.

Tale One: Deliverance from a creepy guy in a corduroy shirt

Many years ago, I was handing out tracts with a group of friends outside of Busch Stadium, home to the St. Louis Cardinals. In front of the Stan “the Man” Musial statue, my friend Cat and I were attempting to share the gospel with a scraggly young man. He stood, facing us, his back to the curb, with something obviously hidden under his maroon corduroy shirt. A strange look came over his face as he leaned in toward us and snarled, “Have you ever considered that you might be martyred for your faith?”

Without a thought, up from my insides Scripture thundered. I spoke the words I heard: “At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11 and 12 just rocketed up from my spirit and flowed out of my mouth! The sword of the Spirit was in operation.

But the next thing that happened left Cat and me with dropped jaws. The man, leaning into us and threatening one minute, collapsed backward the next, falling onto the hood of the car parked behind him at the curb. Just then, some of the guys in our group approached us and asked if we wanted them to take over. Cat and I, who were punching each other in the thighs, both in shock, both thinking—that really happened?—left the fallen man to the guys.

Tale Two tomorrow.

Until then,

Dorothy

…the word of God … performs its work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13b

I thank God that He has a variety of ways by which He can get our attention. For the person who prioritizes Bible time, the ability to pick up on cues from the Holy Spirit will become somewhat easier over time. That’s because God’s Word is a Discerner (see Hebrews 4:12), and He uses it to enlighten us (see John 1:9). The Holy Spirit does not move outside of the parameters of the Word of God, and at the same time, Word of God is indwelt by the Holy Spirit—the two flow together. It makes sense, therefore, that one of the names for the Bible is the Sword of the Spirit.

In 1997 I “felt” the sensation of sharp impact to my left temple as I drove home from church, prompting me to pray. On the other side of town, my friends John and Janet were about to have a head-on collision in which Janet would strike the windshield with her left temple. She and John survived, and Janet suffered nothing in her body but a broken wrist and a bald spot on her left temple the size of a quarter. No scratches, bruises, or welts could be found on that side of her head—she definitely got the better end of the deal between herself and the windshield she shattered! The Holy Spirit had given me a sensation of impact to the left temple; I prayed until the feeling lifted; and Janet and John are alive and well to this day (see “Is it just me or the Holy Ghost?”).

I have learned over the years that when I get some type of unexplainable “sensation” to take some time to pray about it. I’m well aware that some of the time I may have prayed about things that simply popped up in my imagination, but I know that in John and Janet’s case, my prayer hit the very real target.

Years before the situation with John and Janet, I had a similar “feeling”—along with a quick “picture”—that flashed in my mind. I was taking my customary daily walk in my peaceful neighborhood. I passed by a beautiful home on the right hand side of the street and saw a young teen standing on the porch drinking a Mountain Dew. Instantly, I saw an image in my mind of the soda can flying out of the boy’s hand and I “felt” its impact on the back of my head. I said under my breath, “I bind that, in the name of Jesus!”

No sooner had I bound the scenario I had just “seen” and “felt” when in the street behind me I  heard a crash. I turned to look—and the boy had indeed hurled the nearly full can of soda my way, missing me by a foot or so.

All too often, we think that the random oddball thoughts, pictures, or feelings that arise are “just me”, but my goal is to encourage you to take the time to pray about those things before your mind jumps on to a new thought and you miss an opportunity to be led by God’s Spirit.

I moved to a new town as a young Christian, and I was just learning how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. I was looking for an apartment move into. As I drove to one I had seen advertised, I felt a nudge to take an earlier exit off the highway. I obeyed and traveled on that road for a couple of miles, and seeing nothing, decided to turn around.

I pulled off and was about to go back to my original destination when I heard a quiet voice within me say, “Pursue those houses.” I did, and soon saw a large sign advertising an apartment complex. Following other signs along the way, I found the complex, fell in love with it, and signed the lease for quite a bit less per month than I would have paid at the place I was originally considering. As it turned out, the complex to which I was led was also much closer to the place of employment where I would eventually be hired.

I also needed a bed frame. I had a twin mattress and box springs, but no frame, so one Saturday morning as I drove around the community where I was temporarily staying, I saw a garage sale. I heard that same quiet voice direct me to enquire about the bed frame. I parked, walked up the driveway, scanned all the objects on display, but saw no bed frame. I believed, however, that the Holy Spirit had told me I would find a bed frame there, so I approached the lady of the house.

“I’m looking for a twin-sized bed frame,” I stated.

Her eyes widened as she wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing. “Well, I’ll be! We debated about lugging that thing up from the basement and thought better of it—we didn’t think anyone would want it! Sure you can have it!”

She called her husband over and he and their son went in to retrieve a dusty, spider-webby twin bed frame—in perfect condition! I paid five dollars for it, took it home, and cleaned it up to look like new.

I’ve bought all kinds of things over the years—cars, furniture, clothes and accessories, appliances, technology, a house—but that old bed frame remains unique to me among my earthly treasures, both past and present. When the Holy Spirit gets in on the action, He can make a dusty old, spider-webby, five-dollar purchase glitter like fine gold in your memory.

Abide in the Word, and the Discerner will be a reliable Guide for you.

Dorothy

“Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.” Proverbs 8:10-11

Typically, the main way the Holy Spirit leads His people is via the inward witness—that sense of peace or lack thereof concerning a decision they are making. Some people describe it as a “green light/red light” that they pay attention to inside of themselves. Others call it a “hunch”; some call it a “red flag” or a “check” when the guidance leads them away from an event or decision. You probably have followed these subtle signals, yourself, likely giving it little thought. For folks who spend time in the Word of God, this form of direction is generally very reliable.

Prioritize the Word of God in your life, and the Discerner will direct you by His Spirit.

However, people who insist on receiving more dramatic guidance from God place themselves in a vulnerable and potentially deceivable position, in my opinion. That’s because the Bible is “a more sure word of prophecy” (see 2 Peter 1:19, KJV), “to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (ibid, NASB). Prioritize the Word of God in your life, and the Discerner will direct you by His Spirit.

That said, at times the Holy Spirit may use more “tangible” methods to direct you. He may show you something; He may speak words to your heart; He may even direct you by giving you a “feeling” of something. If you receive His direction via any of these methods, it doesn’t mean you’re a more “spiritual” or “sanctified” person; it simply means that the Holy Spirit has information He wants you to pray about or act upon. The more willing you are to follow through with His leading—whether subtle promptings or more spectacular guidance—the more sensitive you become to His guidance.

I haven’t heard about a lot of people who have been directed by “feelings” or “sensations”, possibly because it can get confused with normal human imagination or emotions and written off as “just me”. Let me share an experience that happened to me to illustrate what I mean.

In 1997 as I was driving home one night after a meeting at church, I experienced an unnerving sense of impact to my left temple as if I was about to be struck by gunfire. I found the nearest semi-truck and drove right next to it for cover from flying bullets! Thankfully, as I precariously hugged that truck, I realized that it was the Lord giving me an intercessory assignment for someone. I entered into prayer as I pulled back from the semi, entreating God for safety for myself, my relatives, my friends, my colleagues, and anyone else in danger of impact. The sense lingered, so I continued praying both in the Holy Spirit and with my understanding until it lifted.

When I arrived home I called my friends from a neighboring church, John and Janet, who had joined us for the service earlier that evening. No one answered, so I left a message.

The next day John called and told me that he and Janet were involved in a head-on collision on their way home from the meeting. He was fine and Janet would be released from the hospital that day. John explained that upon impact, Janet, who was not wearing a seatbelt, flew over him and shattered the windshield with the left side of her head! She fractured her wrist upon impact in an attempt to protect herself, but her head was unharmed. In fact, for the next few days as she combed her hair, she pulled out clumps of it, along with fragments of windshield, leaving an unscratched, quarter-sized bald spot on her left temple! Eighteen years later, she and John are alive and well and ministering in the Arctic Circle.

The interesting thing about this leading of the Holy Spirit was that I almost blew it off as “just me”! But I took the risk of praying about nothing on the chance that it really was something vitally important—life and death important.

Have I ever prayed about nothing when I’ve experienced odd feelings? Probably. But ask Janet and John if it was worth it for me to risk praying about “nothing” that night!

I want to encourage you—if you have those odd, random feelings, just pray. Maybe it will be nothing; but maybe your prayer will be the fuel God uses to bring help and deliverance to someone else.

Dorothy

In fact, after the situation in 1986, I was doubtful I would ever experience the overwhelming oppressive-like feeling again as a guidance technique from the Holy Spirit—and that was just fine with me! I think He only does this sort of thing in extreme cases. Hopefully, I will never need to experience it a third time!

In both of those instances, however, I knew it was important to keep my Bible handy. Hebrews 4:12 states, “ For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” When you are overwhelmed in a decision, whether it’s the rare “Holy Ghost tackle” or the more common human difficulty with determining the best course, you can count on God’s Word to operate as the Discerner. In fact, to neglect the Bible in pursuit of a more personal or “now word” or leading will place you in a vulnerable, easily-deceivable place.

You are called—as a child of God—to be led by His Spirit; but you are also charged to abide in His Word. Counterfeit voices abound; many paths lead to divergent destinies; but only the Word of God will endure forever, and it declares that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—and He commands you to abide in His Word. As you prioritize that Word over every other spiritual voice, you will grow in discerning the often subtle promptings of the Spirit of God. If a counterfeit arises to deceive you, you will be able to pick it out of the “lineup”—and have it arrested and incarcerated—because you’ve been abiding in the Discerner.

For the next few entries, I will be sharing various situations in which the Holy Spirit has led me. You’ll see that His guidance may differ in the way it plays out, but it is never coercive, manipulative, vainly flattering, or contrary to the Word of God.

Until then,

Dorothy

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed… John 8:31b

I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12b

I was preparing to have surgery this summer. As the office coordinator set up the date and time, I learned that I was scheduled for 1:00 in the afternoon. That didn’t sit well with me, to say the least. Controlling my disgust as best I could, I talked to the nurse on the other end of the line and requested a timeslot for earlier in the day. Knowing that an afternoon surgery meant a longer period of fasting food and water, I was adamant: There was no way I’d be going without water all morning! I wanted it changed, and I wanted it changed now!

They weren’t budging. I was about to launch an all-out assault of bossiness, pushiness, and insistence when the Holy Spirit spoke very directly. “There’s a difference between being a prima donna and being led by the Spirit.”

Stopped in my tracks by His words, I was jolted back into reality. It dawned on me that I was using all my intensity for what? To spare me a few hours of thirst? Asking God for forgiveness, I prayed the prayer of dedication. I committed to cease striving in the flesh and to trust Him to orchestrate this thing. If Moses could go 40 days without water, I could go a few extra hours. And if God wanted to change the timing, He could do so without my help.

Two weeks later, I received a call from my doctor’s office. The surgery had been postponed by three weeks…and was scheduled for 7:00 in the morning.

Happy as a clam and grateful to God, I went my way, preparing my home to be more easily navigated after surgery and setting up friends to help until I could get around on my own.

And then, only after I had released the whole thing to God, did I start to receive a series of three cautions within a week’s time about the procedure. I prayed about each one, listened for any new promptings from the Holy Spirit within me, and set up an appointment to speak with my doctor about the specific method she intended to use in the operation.

She assured me as to the safety of this procedure and promised me that I could request a more traditional approach if I changed my mind—just give her a few days lead time. Nonetheless, I felt I should ask to meet with my pastor for prayer about it before he left town on a ministry engagement.

In the meantime, I became increasingly uneasy about the entire operation. It felt similar to the uneasiness I had experienced years ago, prompting me at the time to cancel vacation plans—unaware as I was doing so that my mom was going to pass away soon after I would have left for the trip—unreachable, before the time of cell phones. I had “doubled up on the Discerner” (God’s Word) back then until clarity came; I would double up on the Discerner again and leave it to God to reveal what was up (see “Double up on the Discerner”).

Finally, the day before I was scheduled to pray with my pastor and one week before surgery, the uneasiness was only growing heavier. I said in exasperation to the Lord, “I think I’ll just cancel this whole thing and talk to Dr. B (a different doctor) about doing the surgery.”

Instantly, uneasiness lifted. Peace came.

Friday night after the service, I waited to meet with my pastor and his wife. I felt kind of stupid—here I am meeting with them to pray for my surgery next week…but what will I tell them? I’m cancelling?! They’ll think I’m flaky!

They finished their conversations with various other church members and then ushered me into the small sitting room behind the platform. Before I could open my mouth, my pastor’s wife blurted, “I don’t think you should have that surgery next week.” Confirmation!

We were on the same page, hearing the same thing about this particular procedure. Once again, I had been “tackled” by the Holy Spirit, thwarting me from stepping out into something that would not have been good for me.

On top of that, when I mentioned to my pastors the name of the doctor I thought about going to for a second opinion, they both agreed heartily, affirming their respect for his expertise.

Who knows what I was spared by not following through with this procedure? I will not speculate, but I am a firm believer in being led by the Holy Spirit.

God is faithful and He will enable you to hear His leading…if you’re willing to double up on the Discerner and if you’re also willing to lay aside any “prima donna” demands that may muffle His leading.

It’s worth it!

Dorothy

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Ever feel as if you were being tackled by a dark cloud of oppression? I did in the summer of 1986. Try as I might, I could not lift it. Its intensity overwhelmed me at the exact same time as I was preparing to launch out on an extended dream vacation with a friend!  It was different than fear; it was a dull, heavy foreboding that I simply could not shake.The uneasiness gripping me made me question everything. Should I cancel my trip, stay home, and absolutely shatter my friend’s expectations?

A pastor I talked to told me to “double up on the Discerner”, God’s Word, because it would enable me to discern between soul and spirit (see Hebrews 4:12) and shed light onto the right course for me to take. As I increased my Bible intake—not even on a particular topic—and sought God about the pressing decision I had to make, wisdom came.

I made the tough decision to cancel all plans, disappointing my friend, and obeyed what I believed to be the leading of the Holy Spirit. Days later, I knew why I had been “tackled” by the cloud of oppression. My mother had been scheduled for a routine operation on the day I was to leave, and she was doing great just out of surgery. But within 24 hours, my dad called. “Your mother’s dying. Come home.” I found out that due to surgical error, her intestines had been punctured and she was dying from the release of toxins into her body.

Doubling up on the Word gave me the discernment to stay in town—before the days of cell phones—instead of camping out for weeks in Georgia and up and down the beaches of Florida like I had planned. Had I ignored the pressure of the Holy Spirit or neglected to increase my Bible intake to receive the discernment I needed, I would have been unreachable when Mom was dying. On top of that, I would not have returned until long after she was buried.

I will be forever grateful for the coordinated working of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in my life at that crucial time. Because of the Holy Spirit’s tackle-like leading and the increased discernment I received from the Word of God, I was able to quickly make it to my mother’s side when her life unexpectedly drew to a close.

I will be forever grateful to the Holy Spirit for His wonderful, intimate leading!

Dorothy

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17