God's Nudging

Cards placed on my music stand containing sincere encouragement to keep writing, from a woman I hurt with my words.

A personal e-mail.

An unexpected visit on a very bad afternoon at a time she should have been working, giving me someone to cry it out to.

A look of appreciation and warm smile confirming I am loved.

Flowers left on my front porch with a note reminding me of who I am and where I've been.

Just when I think what I do doesn't matter, along comes a friend telling me it does. When oceans of doubt threaten to pull me down, friends lift my head above the water. They are extraordinary people, really, unselfishly seeing what God has placed in me and taking the time to encourage it. Do they realize in their selflessness they buoy me? Do they know they are credited for any growth I make? Do they know they make me who I am?

“The Christian life is a pilgrimage. At times the road is difficult and we get lonely. Sometimes we may get discouraged and consider abandoning the journey. It is at such times that God will place a friend alongside us. One of God’s most precious gifts to us is friends who encourage us and lovingly challenge us to ‘keep going.’ “

By Henry T. Blackaby & Richard Blackaby from their devotional book, Experiencing God

My friends remind me no act is too small, no word insignificant. They inspire me to follow the Spirit's leading and heed His gentle suggestions to be a friend--go ahead and make that phone call even if it seems too late, risk it and take cookies to the lady you don't know that well, take the time to ask the question though the answer may take a while--for then He is truly at work in us. Then we experience the blessing of being used by God.

Lord, thank You for the precious, precious gift of real friends, of people who speak Truth into my life and nudge me along when I lose steam. Help me love them as well as they have loved me.


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