This Is My Testimony
"Now you know My voice"
During our holiday Revival I learned a valuable lesson in obedience. The anointing filled the sanctuary during Midnight Prayer one particular night. The prayer went out for the restoration of visions, dreams and prophecy among God’s people. Bishop Cole asked for us to share the word that the Lord had given us during that quiet still moment. I was excited and thankful that I had heard from the Lord. But I was unsure if I was truly being led by the Spirit. So I remained silent. I sat there in disobedience, my flesh battling against my spirit. In the end, I stayed silent and lost the opportunity to say what God had given me to give to His people.
(LESSON 1) IF YOU SAY YES, YIELD COMPLETELY.
After a night of spiritual whipping, I deeply wanted another opportunity to do what was right, so I resolved to come the next day and share God’s Word during our Noonday prayer.
(LESSON 2) OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE.
I left for work in a hurry in the morning, not stopping to get any gas in my (empty) tank. I figured I could make it to work in Alexandria, and surely I’d be able to fill up before going back to Waldorf for Noonday Prayer. But things didn’t go as planned, and I found myself hurrying to Waldorf late, with my meter now below empty. The flesh said “turn around and wait until the next service”. The spirit simply said “GO”. The traffic was horrible, and I began to worry. Again, the flesh said “turn around”, but the spirit repeated, “GO”. I was very late; it was after one o’clock. The flesh said “you’ve missed prayer; turn around”. But the spirit still said “GO”.
When I arrived at the church, the sanctuary was empty and the last few people were leaving. Why would the Lord insist I leave my job, skip my lunch break, sit in traffic, drive miles on empty, and still not make it to share the word He had given me? As I headed back to work, I finally stopped to get gas, and my card was denied. I had my bonus check in my pocket but when I drove to the bank, it had just closed. I called the credit union to transfer funds but there was a thirty minute wait for the next available operator! The Lord simply said, “GO”, so with tears streaming I turned toward Alexandria, my tank well below empty. As I crossed the Woodrow Wilson Bridge for the third time, I feared the car would stop before I finished crossing. The card did stop once, but thankfully I was able to restart it.
When I arrived at work, the Lord told me, “It was never about getting my word out, it was about your obedience. All you need to do is obey. Now do you know my voice.”
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
~ John 10:27-28 (NKJV)
(LESSON 3) OBEY.
Be blessed,
Sis Aviya Bradford