Holy
Nudges
By Karen D’Amore
“…be filled with the
Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18(b)
Church
was our common ground…our place of introduction…making us more than strangers,
but less then friends. We were brief acquaintances who enjoyed a handful of
conversations, but had never shared a meal or been to one another’s homes. Most
Sundays, she sat a few rows in front of me. Most often, I remembered her name;
occasionally, my memory needed refreshing.
For
the past week, thoughts of her flooded my mind. My attempts to shrug off those
thoughts were met with a plaguing burden for her. It’s then that it dawned on
me that I hadn’t seen her in a while. As I felt the Spirit poke me with a
familiar “Holy Nudge,” I began to pray for her. As those Holy Nudges increased,
I prayed fervently. Though non-specific in nature, I entrusted the unknown
details to God.
Sunday
rolled around quickly with an engaging message on the Holy Spirit. Fragments of
the Message Notes captured my attention, “The Holy Spirit
indwells…illuminates…guides…equips…and empowers believers for Christ-like
living and service.” Ah yes...the
indwelling Spirit…the Source of those week-long Holy Nudges. That brief
reminder drew me to scan the room for that woman He’d been prompting me to pray
for.
Spotting
her in the lobby after church, I approached her and shared the story of those
Holy Nudges. At first speechless, her watery eyes spoke volumes. “2012 has been
a very rough year, and this past week was one of the worst,” she shared. My
response… “Be encouraged that you are not alone in your struggles. God is with
you and is putting you on the hearts of fellow believers who have no knowledge
of your circumstances.”
In
the midst of a timely message on the Holy Spirit, Scripture came to life. What
an encouragement for this woman, as well as for me, to see the indwelling
Spirit illuminate and guide to a need for encouragement and ministry. And I
believe it no accident that God chose a mere “acquaintance” as the vessel to
“nudge”…a testament to His indwelling presence in both of His children.
Christ-likeness
isn’t formed by imitation…but rather by “inhabitation.” We must allow the Spirit to live through us! “…and
this is the secret: Christ lives in you.
This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” (Colossians 1:27b
NLT) As believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, we must pay attention and
listen to that inner voice. And as the Spirit puts people on our hearts, let us
recognize these illuminations as “Holy Nudges” for Christ-like living and
service!
GOING DEEPER:
1.
Is there someone God keeps putting on
your heart? Have you responded to that “Holy Nudge”?
FURTHER READING:
Married
to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at
Craig Berns Salon. She’s on the Oakwood
Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team and a volunteer at the Wildlife
In Need Center.
