Hearing Whispers & Feeling Nudges

There are moments in my life when I know for a fact God has spoken to me. One of those moments was yesterday. I didn’t know what was happening while it was happening, but found out the profundity of it later.

I was swimming laps at the gym, which I love for the calm it brings me. I wear ear plugs, so I can’t hear anything besides my own breath and a few distant thuds or splashes. It’s amazing how my mind settles into a meditative mode. I ponder a lot and pray.

Yesterday, I swam and prayed for anyone and everyone that came to mind. As I swam and prayed, I focused on this ray of light that was shining from the windows and shimmering in the pool water. I was in a zone.

At the end of my workout, I rewarded myself with a little ritual I do on the side of the pool. I hooked my legs on the side of the pool and let my body float in the water. Only part of my face was out of the water so I could breathe. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. I remembered what my pastor has said about ancient Jews never saying the name “God” because it is so holy. They used the word “YHWH” or “Yahweh” instead. It sounds like the noise your breath makes as it enters and leaves your body. “Yah” on the inhale, “weh” on the exhale. Genesis 2:7 says God made man by breathing the breath of life into him, so even our breath can be considered the presence of God in us. I hung on the side of the pool and listened to myself breathe and meditated on God in me.

This feeling carried me through my shower and getting ready for the day. As I was putting on my makeup and still in the zone, I literally heard a voice whisper in my head. “Gina.” My blog-turned-real-life friend. And I knew I should text her, so I did. I wrote, “Just want you to know I’m thinking of you today, for no other reason but you came to my mind during prayer time!” I selected “Send To” and went to find Gina’s number in my address book. And it wasn’t there. How could this be? I almost hit “End” with the thought that I could email her when I got home. Then the thought “Go look in your iTouch” came to mind. I went and found my iTouch and found Gina’s contact info. I went back to my phone, entered her cell number, and sent the text. I really thought she would think I was weird for texting out of the blue.

Gina wrote back, “Thank you… who is this? I lost my contacts and have a new phone.” I later texted that it was me, and she wrote again and said she needed prayers because she was having a rough morning. I thought that was the end of it.

Last night, Gina explained the situation by email to me. She also blogged more details here, and I can’t tell you how big the smile on my face was after I read that.

Do y’all understand the big picture here? GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. It might not be the kind of answer you expect, but He hears you! How else can you explain the randomness of what happened between me and Gina yesterday? Oh, sure. Chalk it up to coincidence. Whatever. I know for a FACT that God hears me. And you. And, sometimes, He uses a tiny little text to upend your world and let you know He’s got your back.

Thank you, God, for nudging me and using me to show others how much you love them!