If we will be about the Father’s business, we will find His agenda is always good. There is ease, joy and serendipity moments. His timing is impeccable, and His heart for the one beyond measure.
Simply put, God is good!
I dropped my 6-year-old off at school headed home. As I drove, I had a fleeting thought that I should head straight to our local hardware store to purchase a padlock we needed for our new gate.
‘Odd,’ I thought. ‘I’m just around the corner from home.’
In my wisdom, I kept driving towards home, thinking I would pop back home first to collect an item I had bought there the day before, which I needed to return. But, as I checked my plan with God, I sensed Him say,
‘No, go straight to there now.’
‘Odd,’ I thought again, and drove straight past my home, figuring
‘What have I got to lose in listening and obeying as I go?’
I wondered who, or what I would encounter at Bunnings when I got there, as I went about the Father’s business.
I found a park and headed straight into the store. As I did, I saw a friend from church that worked there, standing at the door to give directions to customers.
‘Oh, you must be the reason I am here – you’re a blessing for me to see you,’ and I stood smiling at her as we had a brief chat before I headed off for my padlock purchase.
I found what I needed and as I headed to the checkout to pay my friend me and suggested I let her buy me a coffee.
I hesitated. There was so much to do in the day. I felt ungracious about hesitating, but I had an urgent legal case that needed attention; tradespeople were in my garden; a there was a variety of jobs to be done; and a small amount of time to complete it all.
I was already behind my agenda with this extra stop off for God.
She saw me hesitate and said,
‘No pressure. I know you are so very busy.’
‘No, I’m just checking with the Holy Spirit to see what He says. I am very busy, but He wants me to stop and have a coffee with you, so I will. Thank you!’
I explained what I had on my plate and hence my hesitation, not wanting to offend or hurt her.
We chatted, and it was lovely. I felt blessed to stop for a moment and be with a friend.
With her break time up, we wandered back to the checkout. I still needed to pay for my padlock. She walked back to her post at the door, and I stood waiting to pay. As I did, I looked at the woman serving me, and instantly knew I needed to offer to pray.
I stopped after paying and said to her,
‘This might sound strange, but I am a Christian and I have an overwhelming sense that I need to offer to pray for you. Is there anything that I can pray for you for?’
The woman looked at me, shook a little, and became teary.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘There is something you can pray for me for, there is… but I …’
She trailed off.
I knew not to push for details. It was private, and she clearly felt suddenly overwhelmed.
‘It’s ok, no need to tell me. God knows the details. I will bless you. He knows what you need, which is why He wanted me to ask you if you needed prayer.’
She nodded, but as she assented to prayer, someone came up behind me to be served.
I stood back.
‘I’ll wait,’ I assured her.
As she finished serving that person, another one came for service, overlooking the other available checkout station.
I stood and waited some more. She finished with that one and yet another came, and another again.
I stood waiting.
It often happens. I will offer to pray and suddenly the check out isles fill with customers. The teller can be nervous that I need to wait, and so I know to stand, looking relaxed, even if I don’t feel relaxed. In reality, I often stand, feeling awkward. But, with experience, I have learnt to be patient, knowing the time to pray will come.
If I can stand my ground, I will fulfil my assignment.
I quietly prayed for an opening, for the ebb of people to slow.
It came.
I walked back over.
‘My name is Beth.’
She told me hers and I took her hand and I prayed. As I had promised, I prayed for a blessing. I also prayed for favour and wisdom in the pathways forward. God knew her needs, so I thanked Him He would meet them.
As I did, her eyes filled with tears.
While I knew she needed wisdom, I had no no profound ‘knowing’ or prophetic words that came to me that pierced her situation. I simply had compassion for her. She wanted to remain private, and I honoured that.
Since God did not give me any more insight than what I had, I knew that offering to pray, and her accepting the prayer, was enough for the Heavenly hosts to move on her behalf. God’s goodness would flow into her situation.
I finished, sensing I was to bless her with the Father’s blessing. I knew I meant to kiss her forehead.
I explained God was pleased, and that He loved her. She shook some more, and I asked if I could kiss her forehead.
She pulled back a little and shook her head, not daring to look at me. She could barely hold it together.
Again, I knew enough not to push it, and instead I kissed my fingertips and gently placed them on her head. I thanked her for letting me pray.
As I walked away, the next customer came. I saw her wipe away some tears as she composed herself for the person she had to serve.
The entire time, my friend watched what I was doing. She saw I was about the Father’s business. She had seen me do it before, and in fact, she had also been doing this sort of thing for years in coffee shops and places she would visit.
I stopped by her side and suggested she watch out for the girl, and we both looked over as the woman wiped away more tears.
I knew the woman was in excellent hands. My friend will watch out for her, as will God!
I left saying to God,
‘Well, that was an interesting morning. I saw a friend, had a tea, an encounter was waiting for me. Thank you.’
I smiled at Him, feeling my deep love for Him, and feeling His deep love for me.
It had been a good morning. I had been about the Father’s business; I had bought the padlock, had a lovely coffee. There was a blessing for me in the entire process.
I drove home knowing that had I rushed home instead of going to the hardware store for a padlock; had I not stopped for a cuppa I didn’t have time for, I would have missed her, for she was not serving when I was originally heading out. My friend would also have missed it and would therefore not have known to watch out for her.
I knew had I not listened to God, but listened to my logic to collect the plumber’s piping, something may have sidetracked me – the workpeople or other matters at home. I might not have gone at all.
I knew that had I not stopped and listened to the fleeting idea; had I not recognised the fleeting idea as God’s idea; had I not checked what God wanted me to do with my time that morning; had I not put my agenda on hold for God’s agenda, I would have definitely missed it and I would have certainly missed being positioned to release God’s love in to someone’s life.
Instead, I am so glad that I listened, and through practice over time I have learnt to stop and check with God when such inconvenient or strange ideas pops into my head from nowhere. Sometimes those crazy ideas are not so crazy. Rather, they are God’s ideas and He is inviting us to co-labour with Him to work in the family business …
I have missed it so often, but through missing it, and letting the Holy Spirit speak to me in loving kindness, to teach and train me, I now miss less than I once did. I had nothing to lose to follow the prompting I felt, even if I got it wrong. Regardless, I knew my obedience would please Him, for He is my audience of One.
So often, He has us stop for the one as we go about our business. We can go about our day, and if we will lean in, we can simultaneously be about the Father’s business, too.
Because of my willingness to stop and to contemplate an idea that made no sense according to my agenda, God gave me the privilege of praying for someone to co-labour with Him, the Creator of the Universe. In following God’s agenda, in being about the Father’s business, rather than my own, a woman now knows that God cares, He loves her, and He is real. She had a genuine encounter to hold on to. She experienced a loving Father, and this will show her forevermore that…
God is Good!
“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
© Beth Kennedy 2022
Thanks for sharing your journey of listening and following Holy Spirit’s leading. You will never know how much your obedience meant to R and the decisions she needed to make. So often it is the small things that make tremendous difference to yours and other’s lives.
🙂
Thank you for reading and encouraging …!
Blessings Pure Glory!
God is Good!
Blessings overflow over you so they can’t be contained!
And you too my good friend!
😀
After feeling like I had “missed it” with someone today, my immediate thought was “oh dear, I’m so hopeless.” Then i stopped and (remembering something Joyce Meyer says) I corrected myself, saying “No. That’s not right. I may not be where I’d like to be, but I sure am a lot further down the path than I was a year ago, or 5 years, or 20 years ago! Thank you Jesus.”
It’s nice to hear that you feel like you “miss it” a lot less these days. I’m hoping to get to that point too, by the grace of God!
I remember another post where you felt as though you’d missed it, and I was interested to see how you didn’t beat yourself up about it. That encouraged me to be easier on myself.
Thanks for the encouragement.
By the way, could you let me know of the name of the James Goll book on Angels you mentioned one other time? Thank you!
Hi Kate. When we miss it, it’s an opportunity to sit in the Father’s lap and learn … the trick I find is recognising I missed it! LOL!
The James Goll book is “Angelic Encounters: Engaging Help from Heaven” great read … and expect your eyes to be opened as you read and for dreams to increase … as they did me, and the person that recommended me the book too!
Blessings Kate!
God is Good!
Love it 😉
I just loved that you said “I knew not to push for details” 🙂 Sometimes it’s tempting, but we have to let God do His thing 😉
Trusting God is so amazing!!! (especially when He lets us get a glimpse of what He is doing).
I agree with you, I am learning to be more instantaneous in my obedience to those soft proddings……..especially when they don’t seem to make necessary sense. God IS good my sister 🙂
Blessings in all your God endeavors!
JC
Thank you JC.
It is hearing Him and allowing the wind of the Holy Spirit to take us … The rest seems to take care if itself, although I so often find myself stepping back into my own agenda!
Me too! I look at it like training…..He’s training us in these one on one settings so when He has a ‘big’ assignment, we will fight/perform the way we train 😉
I love that He is precisely accurate in ALL that He does. And even when I miss it, I am honored to be used by Him 🙂
Agreed! 🙂
I have been learning a great deal about obedience lately as well. God continues to work among us for His glory. I know I am grateful to be a part of it. What a privilege!
Agreed … it is a privilege … although it can often cost us personally 🙂
Blessings Derek,
God is Good!
It will always cost us personally. But that is alright — Jesus gave it all.
Agreed!
Hi God is good, thanks for sharing, it’s wonderful to be the vessel God uses in a person’s life, although we often don’t know the seeds we plant that bear fruit but we will in Heaven.
My times of intercessory prayer is different, more private, we all have different ways of expressing our gifting what is important as you shared is that we willingly express them in Jesus name and for His glory.
I haven’t been receiving your Posts even though I’m following you, I hope it’s fixed now.
Christian Love from us both – Anne
Hi Anne
I have not been posting much due to various pressures with time … so you haven’t missed any posts I don’t think 🙂
Great to hear from you though and thank you for your comments.
Blessings
God is Good!
Wow that was quick I just got back and I received your comment, No I did not receive this Post I saw you on someone else’s Blog and wondered how you were going so I clicked you and found this Post, if it happens again I will tell WordPress.
Blessings – Anne
Strange that it dropped off. That has happened once or twice to blog I follow too. Blessings. God is Good!
I’m humbled to read your lovely and heartfelt message. I’ve had a particularly tough week and looked to God praying over and over, ‘Please, may your will be done.’ I discovered your blog at cattscoffeeincake. wordpress.com and am ever so happy I came to follow your blog. It reminds me a thousand times over that indeed: God is good. I’m reblogging this post at http://sheridegrom.wordpress.com and commenting.
Reblogged this on Sheri de Grom and commented:
This has been a particularly tough week at the de Grom household and I came across this blog thile reading another blog. The story told addressed how many times in the past week I came up short on what to pray, other than, ‘God’s Will Be Done.’ Reading this particular blog reminded me that indeed God is good and I’ll never be left in the cold and alone.
Hi Sheri
I replied to this yesterday, but it appears to have “gone missing” (the reply that is!).
My response said “thank you!”
Thankyou for reading and for the privilege of re blogging.
I was sad to hear you had a tough week. I read some of your posts briefly and see that you have had a journey that has involved great sadness and loss through mental illness. My condolences … My sister battles with mental illness and it is a dreadful battle.
I am sure you have prayed many times etc. and many well meaning people have probably suggested all sorts if things. Of interest perhaps to you is the testimony I have heard from Randy Clarke or/and Bill Johnson (bethel Church Redding California) of schizophrenia healed…
In any case thank you again!
Many blessings,
God is Good!
Thanks for sharing.
Hi There
Thank you for taking the time to read!
Blessings,
God is Good!
🙂
What a lovely story! I have listened to the Holy Spirit before too, and been amazed to be part of His plan in those moments. Truly incredible.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
It is great fun listening to Him and being a part of His plan to release Heaven in Earth!
Blessings!
God is Good!
I think of so many times I’ve ignored the Spirit speaking. But, Oh, those glorious times when I forget the busyness of things and listen. Bless you for putting aside your agenda and focusing on His. I pray we all do the same.
They are glorious times … the thrill … but also the warmth of His love …
Thank you for your encouragement … I do pray we all do the same … I pray for greater boldness and courage …
Thank you for reading, and commenting.
Bless you, God is Good!
So many times we quench the Holy Spirit and when we stand out on faith, we are continually amazed by God. Your transparency is refreshing.
Thank you for stopping by; your comment; and your encouragement!
Transparency makes it real and relatable.
Quenching the Holy Spirit, or even just intellectualising a prompting away is easy to do, but the reward in listening and responding with a “yes” is amazing! When we have nothing to lose … But so much to gain (for ourselves and others) it really is worth it!
Blessings, God is Good!
Reblogged this on Collective Bargaining Ideas and commented:
I came across this blog while reading another blog. God is good, thanks for sharing, it’s wonderful to be the vessel God uses in a person’s life, although we often don’t know the seeds we plant that bear fruit but we will in Heaven. Reading this particular blog reminded me that indeed God is good and I’ll never be left in the cold and alone.
It’s march 2014 tomorrow…
Kinda hanging out for some more stories!
In Gods timing I guess
🙂
Hi Kate. Thanks for your comment and encouragement. Yes in “God’s timing”. We’ve had massive transition in our private world, and loved people in trauma, so our time time priority has gone elsewhere … That being said if you would pray that the way is made clear I am hoping to get a move along! Blessings,God is Good!
>
I am with Kate on this…..was browsing looking for your stories 🙂
Will keep you and your loved ones in prayer my dear.
Blessings
JC
Hi JC
Thank you!
There are over 200 stories on the blog but I think what’s lovely is that people want more which is very encouraging!
And thank you for your prayers … I can actually feel the difference in terms of ease of walking forwards.
Much wonderful good has happened.
And much sadness for those around me also … But even in those situations the hand of God continues to shine! He truly is good!
Blessings!
God is Good!
Your stories always bless me….with your surrender and willingness to be used. I thought of you as I shared this today 😉
http://thesound33.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/i-missed-it/
I read this and you didn’t miss it!
You saw it, you heard it … And like a child learning to walk He will be delighted that your heart and eat were inclined to His heart for the girl!
No doubt you prayed for her quietly as you left or later … And you have asked for another shot at it!
Well done Beautiful One!
Blessings, God is Good!
Hi Kate. Thanks for your comment and encouragement. Yes in “God’s timing”. We’ve had massive transition in our private world, and loved people in trauma, so our time time priority has gone elsewhere … That being said if you would pray that the way is made clear I am hoping to get a move along!
Blessings,God is Good!
I was preveously in a relationship where we didn’t have any freinds or talk to anybody, I felt trapped. I gave my life to Christ 4 months ago and I love him very much for what he has and is doing in my life!! I desire to live in obedience to him. I feel the prints from the holy spirit alot lately,whitch is y I’m posting now, but I struggle with courage and boldness to speak to people because of my 6 ye. Past. Please pray for me.. because you seem to me like a great prayer warriar and I need more healing! My heart sings with joy as I type because of your very encouraging message! Thank you! And may God overflow your cup of blessings!
Hi there. Thank you for reading. And yes … I declare in Jesus Name that you will be fully you! Everything you were created to be in the Name if Jesus! I also release a spirit if Boldness and Courage in the Holy Spirit. Bless you … God is Good!
I was preveously in a relationship where we didn’t have any freinds or talk to anybody, I felt trapped. I gave my life to Christ 4 months ago and I love him very much for what he has and is doing in my life!! I desire to live in obedience to him. I feel the prints from the holy spirit alot lately,whitch is y I’m posting now, but I struggle with courage and boldness to speak to people because of my 6 yr. Past. Please pray for me.. because you seem to me like a great prayer warriar and I need more healing! My heart sings with joy as I type because of your very encouraging message! Thank you! And may God overflow your cup of blessings!