“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.” I Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

One morning I went to start my car, but it wouldn’t start. I called the mechanic to pick it up.

The day got worse. After missing my dentist appointment, I got a call from the bank telling me I had overdrawn my account, then the mechanic called to say it would cost $900 to fix the car! He said I could pay later and pick up the car right away. Time was short because I had an appointment at 6:00 pm.

I was running late when, out of the blue, I remembered a lady I’d met at a Christmas party months ago. She’d mentioned she lived in my old neighborhood and that she had a swimming pool. I felt compelled to find her and drove to my old neighborhood five miles away. Once there I found hundreds of houses and many had pools.

I took a left, then another left, and drove into the driveway of a house with a pool. I knocked on the door and then started to reason with myself: Why do I think this is the lady’s house? I don’t even know her name! What will I say to explain why I’m here? About that time, a man opened the door. Quickly I said, “Hi! I’ve come to see your wife. I think I met her at a Christmas party. My name is Sharon,” He scowled and said, “My wife doesn’t want visitors!” before slamming the door.

Embarrassed, I ran to my car. As I started to leave, the man knocked on my window. “My wife wants to see you,” he said, “She’s downstairs.” I made my way inside and noticed there were no noises and no lights. It was a bit scary. I rounded the bottom stair and saw his wife lying on a recliner wrapped like a mummy from head to toe. Only her eyes and mouth showed between the gauze. I froze. “Why are you here?” she asked. “I don’t know,” I replied. She repeated herself and I explained that I was on my way to an appointment when I remembered her, and that I didn’t recall her name and wasn’t sure how I landed at her house. Tears started spewing from her gauze as she said, “I’m the woman you met.”

I walked closer as she continued, “Three hours ago I was in so much pain my husband wrapped me tightly to ease my discomfort. I have lupus and asked God to show me that He still loved me. I needed a miracle or I couldn’t keep on living. I told Him, “If You don’t show me by 6:00 p.m., then I am taking pills to end this misery forever. Turn around and look at the clock.” It read 5:57. Then she said, “On my mantle I have a bottle of oil. I want you to anoint my head with oil.”

Oh, I can’t anoint your head. I’m not worthy—I’ve bounced checks today!”

“Sharon, get the oil!” she insisted. I rubbed a drop on her head and we prayed.

When we finished she said, “I feel better, not completely, but that’s not what I asked God for today. I asked Him to show me He loved me and He answered. Thank you for following the Holy Spirit’s nudging even though your day was busy.”

What an honor to be used by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told believers that the Holy Spirit would dwell in us and never leave us or forsake us even to the end of the world. (Hebrews 13:5). God’s Spirit leads us. We have access to His supernatural leading, power, comfort, peace that passes all understanding, and divine illumination of the inspired Word.

He will lead you, too, just as He leads me. He speaks and leads through the living Word of God, a life of obedience, and through your thoughts when you surrender your whole being to Him.

Dear Lord, Thank you for Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be more focused on Your supernatural leading in my life. Thank you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

Do you know Him?

Pierced By the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper

Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps:

Start everyday reading your Bible with this prayer from Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from thy law.” You will become more in tune with the Holy Spirit’s leading when you read His Word.

Reflections:

When the Holy Spirit nudges you, are you obedient to follow through with it?

Are you controlling of your time, unwilling to take the Spirit’s detours?

Power Verses:

John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (NIV)

Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (NIV)