Trusting the Nudge

My heart begins to beat a little faster and I feel a heaviness in my gut. The words or action overwhelm my thoughts and physically I feel my body propelling forward.

Physical symptoms of the Holy Spirit nudging me to say or do something.

The times I chose to ignore the physical signs of the Spirit’s prodding stand out as missed opportunities. I can list specific instances when I chose to ignore the words and ignore the actions because quite frankly I was nervous, unsure of myself, and felt super uncomfortable.  Those missed moments have been filed away and have served as motivation towards obedience.

When I choose to speak words of truth or encouragement or to do something (offer a hug, write a note, send a message, give some money, or simply sit and listen), I feel the physical signs disappear.  My heart rate returns to normal as the words pour out of me.  Each moment of obedience serves as a reminder to me the next time to trust the nudge.

If I wake up in the morning thinking of someone, I send them a message or stop and pray for them.  I have to.  If I ignore it, I will continue to obsessively think about them because the Spirit is nudging me.  If it is an inconvenient time to be obedient, I try to push through and remember that obedience is rarely about self and convenience. 

Learning to trust the nudge from the Holy Spirit has been one of the most powerful lessons I have been taught.

Living in a country where I cannot speak the language fluently could become an excuse to ignore the nudge.  I feel the physical signs.  I hear the words.  I feel the actions.  It would be easy to say, “When I am fluent, I will be obedient.”  Hesitantly, I grab the hand of someone who can translate and ask them to help me.  God doesn’t care where I am living or what language I speak, He always provides, so I can continue to be obedient.  No excuses - just obedience.  Trusting the nudge of the Holy Spirit, I have had the sweetest opportunities to encourage and speak truth.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit’s nudge takes me by surprise because it is in response to someone else’s obedience to that same Holy Spirit.  A few months ago, I asked on Facebook if anyone else would like to join our prayer team.  Fairly quickly I received a message from a woman who we have known for years.  We attended the same church 20 years ago and both her husband and her were on staff at the first church we helped plant in 2008.   I would classify our relationship as co-workers and acquaintances - we weren’t super close.  After the staff dismantled eighteen months later, we lost touch.  Everyone moved on.  

Karen’s message just said “add me to your prayer team.”  

She followed that message with another one saying that if we ever had a prayer request or need that we couldn’t publicly share, to please let her know and she would pray and keep our confidence.  Simple.  The Spirit nudged Karen to join our prayer team and she did.  

Within weeks, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that the more Scott and I invested in marriages here (through counseling, teaching, sharing, mentoring, etc.), the more likely we would be targeted and issues could easily arise in our own marriage.  The picture that there was a target directly on us became clear and we needed someone to intercede on our behalf.  I picked up my phone and messaged Karen.  I shared with her that we were beginning to do some marriage counseling with a few couples and I asked her to pray for wisdom and discernment as we counseled but also to pray for our marriage.  Karen prayed.  Her prayers have been powerful and sweet in so many ways, but one way it has been particularly sweet is that I know she has insight into our lives.  Her family served as missionaries in Spain and they have remained active in the world of missions.  She knows.  She gets it.  I don’t have to put words to all of the thoughts, worries, and fears.  She knows.

Karen’s moment of trusting the nudge from the Holy Spirit and my moment of being obedient and asking for prayer has provided us both with a sweet prayer relationship.  Over the last few weeks, we have both been super vulnerable and transparent.  Asking for prayer.  Sharing the prayers we have prayed.  A type of relationship that did not exist before, yet the Holy Spirit brought us together.  I am so thankful that God knew what I needed.  I am so thankful that Karen was obedient and messaged me.  I am so thankful that I felt the target and I allowed a moment of transparency to message her back.  I am so thankful. 

It is a reminder to me that the more I practice obedience and trust the nudging of the Holy Spirit, the easier it becomes to speak and take action.  Don’t get me wrong, this introvert is still nervous and would rather not get involved.  But I have concrete examples of times that I ignored it and the times I was obedient; every single time I regretted the missed the opportunities and not once (EVER) have I regretted trusting the nudge.

It starts with me. 

It starts with me trusting the Holy Spirit and taking steps of obedience. 

It starts with one person reaching out and their willingness to enter into your life.

It starts with one and then the domino effect begins.

It starts with me. 

It starts with you. 

Listening to that small voice and being willing to obey. 

Trusting the One who is speaking to you and believing that He will equip and empower each of us. 

Willing to be inconvenienced and allowing the interruptions. 

It starts with us; are you willing to trust the nudge?