JD Walt with Seedbed.com allowed me to share The NUDGE. The NUDGE was an encounter with the Holy Spirit that helped me prepare for battle. God knew, but I had no idea what would occur during the next several years. He was preparing me for what was to come and equipping me to use it for His good.
Let me share THE NUDGE:
In 2009, I stood in the parking lot of Stuttgart High School. I was the literacy director for the school district, and most of my time was spent in that building. A sweet lady named Ms. Avery was a permanent substitute next door to my office. I didn’t know Ms. Avery except for dealing and interacting with a few students, but little did I know she was watching me.
Ms. Avery met me in the parking lot that day fifteen years ago; she shared with me what God had laid on her heart. She told me she had put me on their prayer list at church. I don’t know about you, but when you hear you have been put on a prayer list, you wonder what is getting ready to happen. She continued by telling me that she had watched me during the school year and that I was a motivator and encourager. She then said that I was wasted in the school district and a world out there needed me.
Ms. Avery received a prompting from the Holy Spirit to share with me. Wow! She told me to get up and walk and do what God’s purpose was for my life. Leave Egypt because this isn’t where you are supposed to be.
That year, I began to walk. I walked where the Holy Spirit sent me and followed His promptings. There were times I was uncomfortable, times I felt strange, and times I thought others would think I was crazy, but I did it anyway. One of those times was a few months after Ms. Avery had placed me on the prayer list and given me some parking lot preaching.
While shopping at Target, I watched as the lady in front of me kept contemplating whether to purchase some patio lights.
The Holy Spirit kept speaking to me, saying, “Buy her those lights.”
“No, I don’t want to; YES, buy those for her,” said that small voice.
During my inner-voice discussion, the sweet lady looked at me and said, “Oh, you are buying these lights also.”
I said, “Yes, ma’am. I am buying them for prom.”
As the checker continued to scan all her items, she grabbed the lights and said, “I can’t get these; just a little much for me now.”
At that time, the Lord gave me a sharp NUDGE. One that couldn’t be ignored. I was still hesitant at first, but then I listened and obeyed. I purchased the lights and ran into the parking lot to find her. I handed her the lights and ran back to finish checking out. I gathered all my sacks and headed out the door, only to be met by her. With tears filling her eyes, she told me her story. She had received a cancer diagnosis, and today was her first chemo. She wanted to have the patio lights for her back porch to bring her joy but then decided with the extra cost of cancer; she just couldn’t. We both stood in the parking lot in tears.
That day in the Target parking lot was when the NUDGE was created. Never Underestimate Decisions God Encourages. Since that day, I have never ignored a nudge God has given me, and I am so thankful for it. At that moment, I was a verb, and from that day on, I have always tried to be intentional, living every day acting and not regretting later that I didn’t.
Many times over the past fifteen years, when I have doubted the Holy Spirit’s nudging, I return to these two moments. These parking lot preaching events have encouraged me to follow God’s plan. Ms. Avery started a spark, and then what happened in the Target parking lot lit the flame. These two events happened seven years before I began the nonprofit Personal Pep Rally that encourages, motivates, and educates cancer patients and their families. God started planting seeds of spreading joy to cancer patients long before cancer invaded our family. He knew what seeds were going to begin sprouting long before I did. Isn’t that amazing?
I have always loved that story. It brought about significant change in my life. I had always attended church, but I realized then that I was just a pew warmer. I was warming the pew Sunday after Sunday, not really having a relationship with Christ. Several occurrences happened that changed me. Between Ms. Avery, the Target parking lot, a Jesus encounter, and beginning an in-depth Bible Study that same year, I was on fire for the Lord. I was a soul on fire. I felt it, and I knew it. Praise the Lord because what happened over the next 15 years, I would have been lost in the wilderness with no way to climb out. God threw down His rope and rescued me from the pit of darkness. It was a challenging climb at times; it didn’t happen quickly, and to be honest, I am still working on it one day at a time.
But now, unlike in 2009, I am not trying to walk it alone. I take a little walk every day with Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV Do not fear for I am with you
Leave a Reply