He told me he didn’t really like horror films and then asked me if I did. What happened next surprised me.
I barely got the first words out when I felt a powerful stirring from within. It was from my belly and not my brain. I felt strong and energized as these words came out of my Spirit: “Yes. I like to watch sci-fi, monster flicks, superheroes and movies about the devil—I need to know what he’s up to so when he attacks my friends I’m ready and I know how to back him off!” I had no idea I was going to say that, but when I did....
I said it with conviction and I knew it was from the heart of God within me. Sometimes truths get confirmed straight out of our bellies because that’s where the Holy Spirit dwells. The words bypass the rationalizations and limitations of our minds. I love it when that happens. In what I heard myself say, I realized another aspect of my work as a Christian minister.
I recognized my part as a scout in the body of Christ. I go into tangled territory, see what the devil’s up to—where the slippery places are, where the monsters are—and find the clearest paths through.
In this situation, the Holy Spirit in me had connected to the words of my friend and when I opened my mouth a spiritual truth came out. This happened to Elizabeth when Mary came to stay with her. Mary said a few words of greeting and “when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she spake out with a loud voice” (Luke 1:41-42). What came out of her mouth was a prophecy regarding Mary and the birth of Jesus.
It’s thrilling when we speak out of the Holy Spirit. God has a great sense of humor and often what we hear ourselves say is even a surprise to us! This kind of energizing is something we can keep in mind when we read about men and women of God this week. Also I’m praying that even if you haven’t, you’ll soon have the exciting opportunity to experience this energizing for yourselves.
Love, Carolyn
No comments:
Post a Comment