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Then, I got out, and felt very connected to Peace, as I walked around. This sense of inner calm followed me through the prayer time, at work, and back home.
After getting home, getting out of my truck, and beginning to walk to my door, I sensed a sensation of a Peaceful Presence following me, resting upon me. I knew that familiar sense of comforting Love. I had no idea why it was happening, though.
I noticed I had a message left on my phone. Briefly afterward, I checked it and called back. The end of a long, hurtful ordeal had come to an end, I found out. I had not anticipated the news would be met with such unspeakable peace and thankfulness to God. I had anticipated the opposite feelings - When Spirit is in control of our response to something, we might be surprised at the paradoxical nature of the response given us.
What occurred to me was how the holy Spirit of Christ had prepared me, before I knew what was going on. The nudges to prayer, sense of peace, and the feeling of Divine Presence - even sleeplessness - were ways Spirit was companioning and preparing me to meet the news with gratitude and peace, not with anger, depression, and disquiet.
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No, the Spirit does not have to "yell" to summon us to go in a certain direction, to change direction, to speak to someone, or to stop and pray. And the Spirit may nudge us to act in a certain way, for God knows all things that led to the need for us to act in that way - before we knew.
We would be wise to listen and heed always the inner Voice of Love, in the different ways we receive It. The unspeakable nudge we could call an inner inspiration. It arises, and usually we are surprised by it. Yet, God speaks in other ways.
Lent is a time to sharpen our listening-to-God skills. Lent is a season to think about the humbleness required readily to receive and act upon that inner Wisdom that arises to help us, even when we do not know we are in such need of help. Such Loving attention God gives you and me! What Amazing Love!
QUIETLY RESPONDING
In prayerful Silence, reflect on a time when you followed that inner, quiet Voice of God. How did the Spirit get your attention? Looking back, can you discern why you were nudged by the Spirit in that way?
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*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian K. Wilcox, of SW Florida. Brian is pastor at Christ Community United Methodist Church, Harbour Heights, FL, and Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Contact the above email to book Brian for Spiritual Direction, retreats, or workshops. You can order his book An Ache for Union at major book dealers.
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