You'll Hear A Voice Behind You

Sometimes, God leads me to places, people, and things that simply don’t make sense. I’m a question person. I need answers to everything! It’s hard for me when God leads me to places, people, and things that make absolutely no sense. Traveling through Europe proved that to be very true. There were places I didn’t want to go to yet God told me to go there.

So, then, going “there” meant what? Let me give an example. I spoke before about my love for earrings. No matter where I go, I have to visit the jewelry store. I’m allergic to fake jewelry; I have to wear real gold. I’m always looking for a new pair of earrings. My two friends and I were in Venice. It was last minute, and I told them, “Let’s go to Murano.” It was already after 4 p.m. We got there a little bit after 6 p.m.

As soon as we got off, I headed for the first jewelry store I came too.

The woman greeted us. She didn’t speak English. I spoke to her in Italian.

We went to pay for our jewelry, and I felt God say to me, “I want you to place your hand on this woman’s shoulder and pray for her!”

I was arguing with God about this. "God, what I’m supposed to say to this woman? She will think I’m crazy. And I’m with friends, they will be uncomfortable with this.”

I love God’s responses! “Are you going to obey my command? Lay your hand on this woman’s shoulder and pray for her.”

Before, I could continue to argue, I heard myself speaking, in Italian saying, “Signora, please don’t think I’m crazy but God is telling me to pray for you. May I pray for you?”

The woman began to cry. She immediately, said, “Yes, please!” I had to go behind the register to lay my hand on her shoulder, and I prayed for her. While I prayed this woman was crying. At the end of the prayer, she gave me a hug. She told me, “You are my Angel today. God sent you here. I am really at the end of my rope. I was supposed to close early because to go home, the last boat leaves at 5:30 PM. But, I felt to keep the jewelry store open longer. I missed my boat, but I felt it was more important for me to stay open. I just didn’t know why. I know God sent you to my store tonight. You have no idea what you have just done.”

Just like that, she gave me a hug, and a huge discount on our jewelry, told me she wasn’t going to go home, but go to the church that was there and spend time in prayer.

She told me, “While you prayed, I felt heat coming from your hand. It didn’t burn me, but your hand was really hot!”

I touched my forehand with my hand but I felt no heat. I touched her again, she said, “That’s funny, your hand is no longer hot.”

I knew exactly, now, what just happened. I explained to her why that happened. I asked her if she was sick? She didn’t answer me yes or no, but only that God touched her, and she knew God led me to her store.

Imagine, God sent me all the way from Boston, USA, across the Atlantic, traveling from France, Switzerland, half of Italy, last day in Venice, to this little beautiful Island of Murano to pray for a stranger, who was at the end of her last thread of hope.

REFLECTION: "You will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left,'" (Isaiah 30:21). Do you see what I see? You will hear a voice behind you saying go here, go there, and once your there, what to do and what to say. We are God’s hands, feet, and mouth piece in a world that’s hurting and needs the Master’s Touch. Could God have used a person who lives in Italy? God can use whoever He chooses to use. I don’t know why me, but I know I experienced God’s power that night too. God was doing multiple things that night. Reminding me to continue to live my life righteous, godly, and holy before Him. If I want to live a life fully devoted to serving God, then I must hear Him speaking to me.

Guess what? God speaks! The question is are you hearing Him? Are you obeying Him? Are you living holy and righteous before Him? Please don’t make a mystery of hearing God. There’s no mystery involved. However, don’t expect God to lead, guide, and speak to you while you choose to live in sin. Get rid of everything and everyone that would compromise your rightful standing with God.

Beloved Friends, God is real, and God speaks. I will not be forgetting this woman. She taught me a lesson too. She said she was hanging on a thread of Hope, and God sends the Founder and President of Thread of Hope all the way to her little island in Italy to pray for her! Do you know I never made that connection until I wrote this now? Wow, God. I use this two word phrase all the time.

Is anyone out there that can’t hear or see how God talks today? Let me remind you that God is surely talking in this story. Are YOU listening?

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You still speak to Your children today. I ask You to speak to me and use me for Your glory. Lord, empower me to do Your will and to be Your hands extended that others might see You in me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

#TopicArticle #obedience #listen #relationships