It’s Mardi Gras weekend back at home and I can’t help but to think of my younger self just 6 short years ago. A young girl at her first parade where she was not surrounded by family. Absolutely no chaperone nor adult with anyones best interest in mind.
Today though, I spent time in fellowship with my husband, close friends, and church family worshiping and praising the good Lord for hours. Lifting His name on high and giving all that I could give to Him.
Not long after we first started attending our church, the youth had returned from summer church camp and was sharing the things that God had revealed to them during the service. Several of them mentioned that they received “a word” from another amongst the crowd, and this was obviously very significant to them. I didn’t think much about it until I heard this said again on a sermon I was listening to just a few short weeks ago…then again on a TikTok. I couldn’t quite grasp it, “receiving a word.” However I prayed to God that if it was in His will, and in His timing for me to receive a word of my own.
Tonight in the middle of worship, months after my prayer to receive, the preacher walked up and sat down beside me. He went right to the point, stating that he felt God was strongly leading him to give me a word. That he wanted to do his very best to share what God was leading him to tell me verses putting it into his own words. He proceeded to say, “He hears you, He sees you.. you are out of the shadows.” He encourage me to pray for God to reveal what the meaning of this is if I didn’t have an idea already.
I instantly knew….about two weeks ago I was asked to share my testimony with the girls in my life group. This was the first time I had been asked to and it was a very special moment for me—so special that I ended up completely butchering it and fumbling over my words! Regardless of what I sounded like, they heard a story of redemption. They also asked if I had considered rededicating my salvation. This is something I have had on my mind for quite sometime, I just hadn’t quite felt that I had been “ready enough.” Especially being that this would be my second time.. However, after tonight, there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord hears my prayers. That He has seen the change in my heart that could only have been done through Him. That He has pulled me out of the shadows to be a light for His kingdom. That my heart had to be in a prepared place, ready to welcome and receive.
What a mighty God we serve. He left the 99 for me though I did nothing to deserve it.
I just want to give praise to Him and to hopefully encourage you. His timing almost never looks like my timing. And thankfully so, because His way is nothing short of perfect.
“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12
Built On The Rock 