God is speaking to us; sometimes it's a clear, understandable picture and sometimes He gives us what I call puzzle pieces. I imagine the complete picture of my life, in the highest heavens, before Father. The whole picture is formed, each piece in its perfect place, even the thousands of blue sky pieces and the pieces detailed with fine blades of grass, each piece intentionally crafted and fitted together, beautifully, patiently. As I walk with Holy Spirit hand-in-hand on earth, listening (sometimes more alert than others) He drops these pieces one by one into my spirit. It may come via a prophetic word from someone else; as I soak in Father's presence; as I flick through the newspaper or as I read the bible, literally in a myriad of brilliant and wonderful ways. But I'm learning that the new piece may not relate to the last piece I got! It may be connected to something in the picture of my life that I am still totally unfamiliar with. The truth is we only see in part and at that one part at a time.
But what happens when we get a puzzle piece that is altogether unfamiliar...
Are we open enough to receive it?
Do we receive it - write it down, store it up in our heart like Mary?
Do we test it to see if it really is God speaking?
Not all things we hear or see are from God, it is therefore wise to test all things. I have been learning how to test what I receive. One way is through having the witness of God's peace. The peace of God through the Holy Spirit is of great value to me and I admit I simply cannot live or make decisions without it. Another test is, does what I hear align with God's Word. Is what I'm hearing in agreement or disagreement with the Word of God (the bible) as interpreted by the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, I also ask Father to confirm that what I have seen, heard or felt was of Him and I wait on His confirmation. If it is Him, He will surely confirm His word. He may sometimes repeat what He showed the first time round, in exactly the same way or at other times He shows me the same thing only in a different way, like through dreams. Confirmation also comes from other people, most especially those I am accountable to. These are people whom God has divinely connected me to. They know my character and are familiar with my day-to-day walk with God. They are not just good friends but will also fulfill a mentor type role and provide counsel to me through Holy Spirit. For me, walking in intimate fellowship is essential to hearing God and being affirmed in what I discern.
In October 2015, as I was preparing to leave Canada at the end of my mission, I was asking
God where next. All through that summer He had given me the word 'Buffalo', which mostly came through other people. When a close friend in another country prayed for me, all they kept getting from Holy Spirit was 'buffalo', this happened about three times, to the extent of even seeing buffalo grazing in a field as she drove past one day, which is a rare thing for her country. She couldn't understand what God was saying but as soon as she share it, I instantly felt in my spirit, it is Buffalo, NY, USA.
Then one Autumn day just as I entered another friends home in Toronto, her phone rang and the person on the other side, had just been to visit, none other than, Buffalo, NY. Again, in that moment I felt a witness in my spirit, a sudden burst of YES, God is speaking right here, right now and great peace accompanied it. So I began preparing to go to Buffalo, NY.
God had confirmed that I was to stay at a hostel, when I searched in the web for places to stay, the very first link that came up was a hostel called none other than BUFFALO-NIAGARA. The memory of that advert sprang up in my mind as Holy Spirit instantly reminded me of that photo from July. I looked at the photo with great joy, the puzzle was coming together and I knew that this hostel is where I was to stay. Off course, it turned out to be a divine appointment and a few perfectly timed encounters awaited me there.
Proverbs 25:2 says it is the glory of God to conceal things and to the glory of kings to search things out. This means get your spiritual archeology kit out and sift, brush and dig patiently for the hidden treasures that lay waiting for you. Again in Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and hidden things that you have not known. Father gives us one piece at a time, waiting for us to call upon Him to help us receive our puzzle piece with wisdom and discernment. He waits for us to draw close to Him, with neither assumption nor presumption. He will help us to know the timing of what we see and to know that His plans for us are good.
As we draw closer to Him, we see more of His character unveiled. Each piece of the puzzle reveals His faithfulness, His goodness, His character, His will. That's the whole point isn't it? What we search for and spend our time looking at, we will become. If it's Him we look for, He promises to conform us into the image of His Son.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Let's be expectant to hear Him and receive each masterfully created puzzle piece with gratitude and enjoy building the picture of our destinies with Him.
