Listening

Thursday was one of those days when I was exhausted upon returning home. My day started at 4:00 AM at the office to running to a warehouse to pick up donated bread for the mission. A major database refused to cooperate during the day and after getting that going, printing equipment didn’t want to work. An electrical storm with heavy rain hit about the time I was going to head home, so I was very late walking home and promptly headed for bed.

In our study on prayer the topic for the week was Listening to God. At 2:00 AM I awoke with a very uneasy feeling and could not get back to sleep. Rather that continuing to toss and turn, I decided to get up and read for a while. Going to the kitchen I noticed a night light in the guest bathroom was out and assumed the bulb just needed replacing. On my way back down the hall I had a strong urge to replace the bulb then rather than later. I found that the GFI circuit breaker was tripped which also controlled the freezer in the garage. I suspected that lightening had caused the problem and sure enough. My telephone was out. Several small electrical items were burned out and there was a nice black smudge on one of the outlets. Often I do not open the garage freezer for several days so things could have spoiled quite quickly in the hot temperature. I was so thankful for the uneasy feeling that prompted me to check things out along with being thankful that the house did not receive a direct hit. Last year one of our neighbors homes was hit and they had to spend many weeks in rented quarters while the damage was repaired. I believe it is quit possible that God was “speaking” that night.

In our study today, teacher Tom directed our thoughts to Psalm 16:7-8:

“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I set the Lord always before me.”

I thought the study directly fit what I experienced during the early hours Friday. Thank you Lord for your counsel and for your instruction even during the night as I awoke from a sound sleep. Might I always allow you to go before me, and might I have ears that hear, and might I be quick to respond!

Have a blessed week.

Love, Chuck