I saw something this week that made me cry. I seem to spend a lot of time at the pool these days, with three of our four children involved in regular squad training. As I may have mentioned before I have found it to be a blessing as I have uninterrupted time to pray, read and write - time for me! Most other parents appear to be enjoying some 'me' time, or having a chat time with other parents or going swimming too.
But this week I saw something different, a vision impaired swimmer training. His father wasn't sitting down having 'me' time. Rather he was walking up and down the pool with each lap his son swam and tapping him with the cane just before he reached the end of the pool.
I cried when I watched them. I cried because of the selfless act I was witnessing. I cried because it reminded me of the hours and hours that went into Victoria's rehab, especially the physical therapy for her left hand and arm. I cried because I was seeing the love of a father in action.
And it made me think about how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help us, including 'tapping' us before we 'hit the wall,' or 'tapping' us so we can start getting ready for the next 'lap'.' The prompting of the Holy Spirit, always wanting to guide and direct us.
Paul allowing the Holy Spirit to direct his travels through Asia is a great example of listening to God's guidance.
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10 NKJV
So what about in our lives? How good are we at recognising the prompting of the Holy Spirit? Especially when it is something unexpected that we are being asked to do or say. It takes courage to move to that new level of trusting that what we are hearing or sensing is actually from the Holy Spirit.
Someone challenged me earlier this week about being bolder in a certain area of ministry. It was an area that I knew I had been growing in, and I was seeing how God was using it to help and encourage others, and bring breakthrough. But it did not always sit comfortably with me, as I didn't always understand what God was doing (surprise surprise). I needed to move to a greater level of trusting God, and understand that when the 'tap' came from the Holy Spirit, I needed to just do it, otherwise it would have implications for other people. And I certainly don't want to get in the way of what God wants to do in people's lives. He loves each of us and wants to see us all moving forward into His purpose for our lives. But that takes trust and obedience on our part.
Let's determine to continue to keep moving forward, growing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and God's word.
In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life — especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced his kindness. 1 Peter 2:2-3 TPT
Let's not settle for where we are now, but rather let ourselves be 'tapped' by the Holy Spirit, listen and obey, so that we can be vessels for our Heavenly Father's love, showing His kindness to others.
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