Steps and Stops

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;” Psalm 37:23

It is believed that Christian Evangelist George Mueller wrote beside verse 23, in the margin of his Bible, "and the stops too". The Lord directs our steps and our stops.

I have certainly taken steps in my life and known that God, Himself, orchestrated that very moment for me but there have also been God-sized stops. While I often feel that I am at a perpetual spiritual stoplight in many areas of my life I experienced one of those rare but sweet stopping points a few nights ago in the Gathering Space at my church.

This past Sunday, Pastor John shared with us that in the process to move from doubt to faith you need to ask the only 2 questions that really matter. 1. What is God saying? I had been asking the Lord to speak in an area of my life in a very clear way that entire weekend. Monday morning the Lord spoke. 2. How will I answer? I chose obedience and it broke my heart. Obedience is always the right decision but it may come with a price. The price of that obedience is what crushed me but I knew above all else that I desperately desire to be in the center of His will. So I took the necessary steps and secretly cried my way through the day.

As I left a meeting that night from the Missions office, I was excited for the opportunities to serve yet relieved that I had been able to hold it together. I was ready to get to my car and just weep. The double doors were in sight when out the corner of my eye I saw a dad and his daughter coming from the sanctuary. There was something familiar about them but I kept walking until I heard, “Hey sister! It’s one of the sisters!” I turned around and immediately recognized a precious family I hadn’t seen in 6 years. I stopped so Howard Sentell, his daughter Emma Grace* and I could briefly catch up. Out of the blue, Howard asked how he could pray for me. I paused and blurted out I might cry if I were honest with my needs. He said, “That’s why it has been laid on my heart to pray for you. We are going to pray for you right now. So how can I pray for you?” I quickly shared what had transpired that day and how my heart was hurting. Both, Howard and Emma laid their hands on me and prayed. As Howard finished praying he asked Emma if she would like to pray and then, as a 14 year old freshman at Farragut High School, she prayed one of the most sincere, Spirit filled prayers I have ever heard. All I could do was cry.

Standing in the Gathering Place as they prayed for me, I was washed anew with gratefulness that the Lord had led me to this church. Each step that I have taken thus far had led me to that stopping place so that on Monday, August 17^th the Lord could remind me that He sees me, He hears me, I am kept by Him and when I need a touch from Him He is faithful to send it through His children and His Church. It just so happened that this time His touch came wrapped up in the form of Howard and Emma Sentell.

So Church … what is God saying and how will you answer?

I love you all!

Blessings ...

- Melody Faith

PS ... Will you join me in praying for Emma this school year? She is on fire for the Lord and I am asking the Lord to hedge her in, keep her strong and to surround her with other like-minded believers so that they can turn their school upside down for Jesus!

*Names used with permission.