I was hit By lightening TWICE!

Just like water droplets forming from warm air, my prayers have collected together and become as big as clouds. These “prayer” clouds have become so big, banging together and forming like bubble gum causing my prayers to turn into blissful rain drops from heaven. A bit dramatic, yes. Yet, every time it rains it has become almost like a love language between God and I. Even though I have been reminded over and over again that this is not the rainy season, each time I have prayed and asked God for rain He has provided. Literally almost EVERY time. As excited as I would get, I couldn’t help but doubt that He sent the rain merely because I asked him too.

Recently as my group was heading onto Bangla Road I began to talk to God and selfishly asked him to answer my prayers. I remember saying, “Jesus If you are really as powerful as you say you are, and really moving within Bangla Road I want you to make it rain tonight. Not just for five minutes, but DOWN POUR!” Ironically, once I stepped onto Bangla I forgot my prayers and focused on our nights task. However later that night during our usual feed back Sabrina excitedly looked at me and told me to listen, as the rain began to hit against our window. Frantically running up and down our never ending flight of stairs, Mrriah & I began to dance in the rain for what felt like hours. He gave me exactly what I asked for! Sadly, as I laid in bed that night I cried to God admitting my lack of faith that It wasn't simply nature but from Him. So I stubbornly asked him again, “Jesus If i'm worth this miracle, show me once more.”

Without fail, the next night during intersession as I was praying it began to rain. As the thunder rolled in and the lightening illuminated the skies I fell to my knees in prayer. I was instantly reminded of the story Gideon thats found in Judges. Without surprise the origin of his name means Mighty Warrior and he surely lived up too it. More and more I began to realize the many characteristics that Gideon and I had in common. Both being born with confidence to lead, we also face insecurity of ourselves and of Gods command. Believing that God has a revolutionary, unimaginable desire to give me a better life than I could dream of can be hard to trust with a world full of self value. A world that believes self comfort and having things that I can see and touch will bring me happiness. Just like me, Gideon asked God to perform a miracle and He did. Once Gideon saw what God had done, he began to doubt and asked God to prove himself one more time. The next morning Gideon awoke to exactly what he asked for (Judges 6:37-40)! As I sat on the balcony and took in my surrounds, I began to pray aloud and make declarations upon my life.

“Abba,
I am a daughter of a KING
and your mightiest warrior. I DONT
need another down pour or miracle to stand firm in my faith.
I will never stop fighting for more of you.
YOU ARE ENOUGH FOR ME.
Amen.”

As soon as Amen left my lips, the LOUDEST and most BRIGHTEST thunder and lightening came down from the sky. It was so loud that I immediately jumped and started to tear up from shock. It was nothing I have ever experienced before. My first reaction was to make sure that I wasn't the object that was struck and couldn't help but to jump up and down with excitement. NOTHING THAT POWERFUL could have came from nature, or from Buddha or any other idol found in Thailand. As if I wasn't blessed ENOUGH, God had even more in store for me! Bitter hearted and feeling hopeless Friday night our two groups made our way to the truck after a night of intersession and Bangla. Immediately telling the girls I wanted alone time, I began to pray silently to God about my heart aches and worries. While on the top of our everyday mountain we travel over I whispered,

“Father,
Im sick of feeling bitter. Im sick of holding in remorse, regret, and
being deceived by lies from the enemy. I want to go after these ambitions you've laid upon
my heart, but HOW do I explain to people they are from you? How do I know that they are worth it?
GOD, SHOW ME THEY ARE WORHT IT.
You've chosen me to do these things, but HOW DO YOU KNOW IM WORHT IT?
Am I even worth it?

Instanenously after my prayer, the car shook and we became blinded by light when a lightening bolt struck down right next to our truck! I am not exaggerating, lying, or trying to make a blog worth reading.

A. LIGHTENING. BOLT. STRUCK. RIGHT. BEFORE. MY EYES.

The inspiring thing about Gideon is not about the miracle, but what Gideon did AFTER the miracle. He didn't move on with his every day life and promise to remember what God did. NO! He began to seek the voice of God and took on an army with only 300 chosen men. I don't want to go back home and fall back into my everyday routine. I want to become more like Gideon, the warrior and fight my battles with God at my side. I want to remember that I have been chosen, and to not only seek to hear Gods voice but to act upon it! We must all be so crazy loved that our all powerful God choses us and runs after us over and over again.  Who gets to honestly say they were hit by lightening TWICE?