Ears to Hear

Wow. Another day of off-and-on rain...I LOVE it! For those who don't know, I LOVE rain - everything about it. I love the way it looks, smells, and sounds (especially the way it hits the metal roof at work) Beautiful. I believe God makes it rain just for me. :) It's Him romancing me. Reminding me of His endless love for me. Complete loveliness really.

Anyways...let me get to the real point of this entry.
Ears to hear.

I have had several seasons in my life where the intensity seems to get turned up, and I am more aware of the voice/leading/etc of Holy Spirit. It will happen at the oddest times, and sometimes in the most simple of places. Like the grocery store.
(Some of you know about my sour cream story!)

Well, yesterday was just such a day.

I came home from work around 5:45pm and as I walked in, I didn't lock the door as I usually would. However, as soon as I took my shoes off in the entrance I felt this impression "don't forget to lock the door". I turned towards the door and thought, no, I will be going out again in a bit, it should be fine.
So, off I went to the kitchen to make some yummy supper. As I sat eating it, and watching TLC (my fave channel), I heard the door open. I said "hey" assuming it was my roomie coming home. But nope. The voice of a strange man said "oh sorry, wrong suite" and the door shut again.

I'm not sure how long I sat on the couch with my heart racing before I finally stood up, looked around me, and then walked to the door and locked it. CRAZY! For the next few minutes following, I found myself looking around in every nook and cranny of our suite to make sure I was the only one still there. The whole experience was a bit un-nerving.

Now, just for the record, I don't lock my door because I'm scared this sort of thing will happen, I lock my door so I don't have to think/worry about anything and can just go about my business. Apparently it is a good habit, that I should continue.

Now, fast forward a couple hours and you will find me in the middle of Superstore, doing a little grocery shopping for the week. As I am approaching the checkout, I spot mustard on sale, and realize (though it's not on my list) that I do in fact need some. So, I grab a large bottle off the shelf. I find myself doing a double take looking at the price. It's on for $2.29 a bottle. and I stare at the price and say it out loud a couple times. I had a thought, "don't forget to check the price at the till to make sure it goes in at that price". Hmmm. Strange thought.

I get to the till, and watch meticulously as my items are being scanned, especially since I've become a bit of a coupon nut (what an adventure). As the mustard scans, I realize it has come up at $2.79, so I mention to the cashier that it is incorrect. She has the item price checked, and sure enough it's wrong...so i get the bottle FREE! It's at this moment I kick myself for not having grabbed a few bottles!! (Policy is, you can get up to $10 free on a single item if the shelf-to-till price is different)

Maybe you are wondering why I am saying all this?

Well...believe it or not...I know both these occasions were the voice of Holy Spirit prompting me. You see, favor can show up in my world in many ways because I am in covenant with a covenant keeping God...and to be honest, it happens most the time in a way I would never expect.

Part of our inheritance is blessing and protection.
Everything God does is for our blessing or protection.
We get to live under an open heaven of blessing and protection.

Case in point...I woke up this morning and thought about going to get a Starbucks. I made the choice not to go, as I have been going a little too often lately. So, I decided to brew my own iced coffee and off I went to work. On my way I prayed and invited Holy Spirit into my day, to lead and guide me, and open doors of opportunity. I even found myself asking Him to provide me with some Starbucks money.
Well, just now, SERIOUSLY just this last minute, someone walked into my office as I typed this very blog, and handed me a $20 Starbucks card.

That's favor.
That's blessing.
From a God who loves me, hears me, and wants to be bring INCREASE into EVERY area of my life.
WOW.

So let me end by encouraging you.
Ask Holy Spirit to open your ears to hear Him today. In a way you've never heard Him before. Ask Him to make His voice and promptings so clear that you won't miss them.
Ask Him to start with simple things...like the grocery store.

xoxo Mir