a call to stop...

Returning home on Saturday evening... I saw it... a sign...

Prayer Garden

Public Welcome

Passing this sign at 65 mph... that still small voice said... Stop...

So I slowed... significantly... where the arrow pointed... and all I saw was an RV park...

Thinking... Well... I missed it... I zoomed on... but not for long...

That voice... His Spirit... it pressed... 

Passing each spot to U-turn... the angst... increased...

Asking forgiveness for missing the opportunity... did not bring peace...

At the next left turn lane on the highway... I turned...

Backtracking several miles... I came again to the sign... a sign to pray...

Making my way to the garden... car parked... Bible in one hand... iPad in the other... I found myself standing at the entry to the prayer garden and prayed... OK... I'm here... 

With ears open... I began to walk...

My expectation... He had something for me... something to tell me... adding to all I heard over the last two days at the leadership conference...

But continuing down the path... it was hard to hear...

Next door... country and western tunes blared... as the neighbor worked on his house...

The garden was full of concrete animals... and men's words... 

All a bit distracting...

Making my way to the gazebo... I sat... telling Him... I'm trying to hear... but there is a lot of noise from the world here... 

I listened more... What do you have for me...?

Nothing...

Then... Why am I here...?

To pray for this church...

Ahhh.... there's the unexpected answer... 

I was not called to this garden to receive...

but to give...

What shall I pray...?

Psalm 32...

(His standard answer for everything of late...)

And so I prayed... through the psalm... for the church He led me to...

When I was done... I went back to the car... headed again... for home...

No more angst... at each turn around...

Just peace...  

And wonder... at a call... to stop... and intercede... for a church... I know nothing about...

Privileged for the opportunity... grateful for the turnaround... and the blessing of serving Him... wherever He leads...

Is He calling you to stop...? not for yourself... but for another...?

Be willing to listen... stop... and intercede... when He calls... even if you don't know exactly who it is you are praying for...

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions

with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and 

always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:18