He is listening

When we want to talk to a friend about something that's happening in our lives, there's a chance they might be busy. They might really, really want to listen to what's going on, but they just don't have the time right then. The good news is that God is never too busy for us. Even though He has a planet of billions of people, places and things to focus on, He will always listen to you too!

I discovered the truth of God's open ears this week when He answered several of my prayers or those lifted up to Him by my Frontiers DTS class.

I had been praying for one girl in our group that God would reveal to her that she's been setting herself up for failure in relationships. I asked God to show her that by leaving the base, she was in fact creating a barrier between herself and other people, and in fact creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of loneliness. I also promised to God that I would offer practical solutions for this girl in relationships and in time management for school assignments. Then this week she got up in front of the class to say God had revealed, essentially verbatim, the things I had been praying about! Amazing! She really is a transformed person and has this new glow about her.



View of downtown Brisbane from
a hill-top church about a 5 minute walk from the base

I'm also finishing up my last day of fasting and praying for the week. I was eating breakfast each day, but skipping morning tea, lunch and dinner in order to spend focused time with God. One of the biggest things I noticed was that not only was I fasting from food, but also from the social aspect of community living here at the YWAM base. But God truly rewarded me in spending this additional time with Him. I've been praying both for my Malaysia outreach as well as for guidance in what to do after my DTS is completed in April.

I also realized that spending this time in solitude with God is exactly what Jesus did. He was a busy guy: preaching, healing and discipling filled up His time. So getting away to just hang out with His Dad for refreshment and a renewed spirit was vital. There is a church about a 5 minute walk from the YWAM base. And a park bench within the church's old cemetery offers a beautiful view of the surrounding suburbs and Brisbane's downtown core. I couldn't help but remember how Jesus would retreat to a mountainside (Mark 6:46) to pray. I'm thankful for this place of refuge from the busyness of the day and a place to get charged up for the day ahead. The look-out is stunning first thing in the morning and allows me to celebrate in the day the Lord has made.

****
He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3 (NIV)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NIV)