Encouragement for Today - Nov. 30, 2007
November 30, 2007
You Want Me to Search My Sole?
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
Devotion:
Sometimes when I make reference to the fact that God speaks to me, there are some people that don't quite know what to make of that statement. But, it is true. God's voice is a gentle rush through my soul or a thought that pops into my head in a way that I know it's not my own. Throughout the Bible, God spoke to His people. And I'm convinced He still does. This is the most exciting part of my adventures with God...hearing from Him, experiencing Him... everyday!
Recently I had the wonderful privilege to speak at a conference with Renee Swope. Renee and I went thinking we were going to be giving out to the ladies at the conference but God wound up giving to us in special ways as well. During Renee’s talk, she spoke about Isaiah 61 as her life verse given to her by God over ten years ago. She referred to verse 3 several times that promises God will make His people into oaks of righteousness, a display of His splendor. She said God's promise to her despite all the yuck of her past was that one day He would use her to "display" His splendor.
Toward the end of her talk, God spoke something that seemed quite strange to me. I felt God tell me to take the sticker off the sole of my shoe. I flipped my shoe over thinking it must be a price sticker. Instead, what I found took my breath away! Tucked safely into the arch of the bottom of my shoe, was an orange sticker that read DISPLAY! Instantly, the Lord spoke to my heart again and instructed me to give the sticker to Renee when she finished speaking and tell her that her life verse had been fulfilled. Today, she had truly become a DISPLAY of His splendor. She was to place the sticker in her Bible beside the Isaiah 61 verses as a reminder of God's fulfilled promise in her life. The sticker even matched Renee's orange jacket she was wearing!
Some may be skeptical that God would speak to ordinary women. Some may think it silly that God would use a sticker on the bottom of a shoe to reveal Himself. But Renee and I are absolutely convinced... from the bottom of our soles and souls!
Dear Lord, Thank you for loving us in the exact personal ways we need. Lord, help us to hear when you speak to us. I pray each day I let my heart get quiet just long enough to sit and listen to your encouragement and instructions. Then give me courage Lord to obey you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
If you don’t have a life verse, why not ask God to lead you to just the right one today? Some of you may be like me and have different life verses for different seasons you've walked through with God. So, identify the most meaningful verse at this point in your life. Right now, mine is Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God!"
Reflections:
Have you heard God telling you to do something lately and you’ve been resistant to obey?
Write down what you feel Him telling you, and then find three Scripture verses that relate to what He’s asking of you.
Pray these Scriptures over this situation and get a friend to pray for your courage as well.
Power Verses:
Isaiah 61:3, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” (NIV)
Psalm 50:1, “The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.” (NIV)
Psalm 81:5, “I hear this most gentle whisper from One I never guessed would speak to me:” (MSG)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
