By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Early one morning while I was getting ready for Bible study, I felt a strong conviction to do something that (at the time) seemed a bit crazy. The thought came out of nowhere, but I definitely sensed the impulse was coming from the Holy Spirit.
If there is one thing I have learned at this point in my spiritual journey, it’s that I need to obey the Spirit’s prompting, even when I don’t understand it.
On this particular morning, I felt strongly that I was supposed to take a certain CD to one of the ladies in my Bible study group. I was clueless as to why, but I obediently went up to my desk drawer (the place where I knew it would be) and put the CD into my purse for safe keeping.
When I entered Bible study that morning, the conviction was very strong, but I didn’t feel the timing was right.
All through our study time I kept thinking to myself: She’s going to think I’m crazy.…What if I totally misunderstood the Spirit’s prompting?… What if my friend is offended?
After Bible study, a few of us always went out to lunch together. The Holy Spirit’s prompting wasn’t letting up. As I pulled my car into the parking lot, I thought to myself, stop procrastinating and just do it.
I grabbed hold of the CD and walked over to my friend’s car.
Just as she was closing the door of her SUV, I said to her, “Okay…. I have no idea why, but I felt a strong conviction this morning that I was supposed to give this to you.”
As I handed her the CD she gracefully replied, “Well… if the Holy Spirit prompted you to give it to me, it must be something I need.”
As if it were an afterthought, she looked down at CD and read the title. I could see her sudden realization set in. My friend’s telling response sent a chill up my spine. In that moment I knew this was the work of the Holy Spirit.
She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I can’t believe it! This is an answer to my prayer.”
Relieved by her confirmation, I asked her to explain further. She then went on to share how a recent teaching at her church had been causing her spirit a lot of uneasiness because it was not in line with what the Scriptures taught. The title of the CD (Why the Church and Culture are Losing Biblical Authority) confirmed what she already felt in her heart.
After listening to the teaching on the CD, my friend called me a few days later and asked if it would be okay to share the CD with her church pastor. I answered, “Yes! Of course it’s alright.”
The experience was a huge faith builder for us both. Not only did my friend gain reassurance that God answers prayers when we need it most, but I personally learned that I need to obey the Spirit’s promptings more and more.
We may not understand why, but we need to follow through with the Spirit’s conviction.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14)
“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:27)
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
