Priceless Promptings

I remember the first “Heart Prompting” I ever sensed was from You, Lord.  I will treasure it always.

It happened in 1986.  Thirteen months before I opened my heart to You for the very first time. I was in my second (and last) year of graduate school.  I was back in my hometown after almost a decade away, where I had been able to see my mom several times a week.  This particular week was the final stretch of back-to-back exams and papers due.  I had told mom I couldn’t see her that week because of my workload.  She understood completely.

One day that week, my schedule caught up with me.  I was totally exhausted and knew I just couldn’t study anymore that day. That’s when the “Heart Prompting” came.  I had never used that term before, but it just seemed to fit.  My heart was moved — compelled — to go see my mom.  200-310 vceIt was early evening.  So I called her.  She was so happy!  We agreed I would come over that very night for a tomato sandwich dinner.  (Yes, really!  Delicious!)

I had another reason to go see her.  I had been planning a surprise for her — a trip to Hawaii with me, as my graduation present to us.  She had always wanted to go there.  The previous summer, she had been hospitalized with Congestive Heart Failure.  She wasn’t expected to survive… but she did.  She was now back in her own condo, but I knew CHF was progressive.  I figured there was “no time like the present” for that trip.

I had planned to surprise her on Mother’s Day with the tickets and itinerary already planned out.  I wasn’t yet married to my dear husband, but he knew of my plans and suggested it might be more fun for us to plan the trip together.  I knew he was right. So when the “Heart Prompting” came, I knew that was the night to spring the surprise and begin The Plan.  We spent three glorious hours together that night, laughing and planning and eating tomato sandwiches!  As I left, we hugged and kissed and parted with a heartfelt “I love you.”

That was the last time I saw her alive.  She died the next morning, telephone in hand — off the hook.  Probably calling somebody to tell them about our wonderful trip.

I have come to treasure Your Heart Promptings, Lord.  Every time I have paid attention to them, I have been blessed in some priceless way… by being a blessing.  These promptings are from You, after all… how could they not be priceless?  I will be forever thankful that I responded to that first one, Lord.  Had I ignored it or been “too tired” to honor it, I would have missed those three precious hours with my mom.  A priceless gift that I knew came from You — the Lord of the Universe.  I didn’t know You at the time.   But for the very first time, I sensed You wanted me to know You were real and You loved me.  ME.SY0-401 vce

“Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  (James 1:17)

You know even better than I do that I haven’t always sensed Your Heart Promptings or “read” them right or honored them. Sometimes I have been too busy or distracted or just plain tired.  I shudder to think what opportunities I have missed to join You in Your work, Beloved.  I am grateful to know You would not let someone else’s eternity hang on my failure to heed Your call.  Yet I also know there is no greater JOY than being in the center of the “action” with You!  To miss even one such opportunity…

[Deep sigh.]

Like tonight.  I logged onto this site and noticed someone had tried to click on my link to schedule an appointment with me.  An opportunity for me to connect with someone in Your Presence through a free coaching call.  But there were no appointment times available.  I’m new at this technology.  I didn’t remember to open up more appointments on the calendar.  I didn’t remember… but You did.  You had given me the Heart Prompting this past Friday.  I could have done it over the weekend, but I didn’t.  And today, an opportunity was missed.

Oh, Lord… Give me eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart surrendered to Your every leading!  Forgive me for thinking anything is more important (or urgent) than whatever You ask me to do!  Have mercy on me, dearest Lord… the God of Second Chances times infinity! 

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws…”  (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

“‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Ever hopeful,

Abba’s Girl

 

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