When You Can’t Ignore the Nudge

Last weekend I had to take my own advice and be strong and courageous.

About a year ago, I was asked if I would consider speaking to a women’s group. I said no. But I couldn’t stop thinking about this little group of women I had never met. Eventually, I reached out and changed my no to a yes.

Many, many years ago, I loved public speaking. It was my favorite language arts class in high school and college. These days, most of my public speaking has been at funerals, so I was feeling a little rusty!

As the event got closer, I knew I was going to be nervous. I asked people to pray for me, and then the night before, something unusual happened: I slept. I really slept! I usually struggle to fall asleep, toss and turn, and wake up early. That night I fell asleep early and woke up when my alarm went off.

I wanted to get a run in before I left, mostly because I knew it would be a good distraction. So I headed out in the dark and rain.

My mom and my 15-year-old daughter came with me to the event. The room was beautifully decorated for fall, and they even had a sign with my name on it welcoming me. My mom also “happened” to run into an old co-worker who doesn’t even attend that church but had been invited by a friend.

Then I started talking, and I wasn’t nervous!

I shared stories about how my husband and I started dating, a few of the nudges God has put in my life, the nudge that led me to start handwriting the Bible, and the story about giving a homeless man a ride. I also challenged the women to think about what God might be nudging them to do.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way

you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8

God has been teaching me to pay attention to those nudges.

One of my favorite parts of the morning was when we spent about twenty minutes writing a passage from the Bible. I had prepared folders with a variety of passages and prayed that each one would end up with the woman who needed it.

Psalm 139 ended up with a knitter. Psalm 23 went to a woman whose loved one had recently passed away, and Psalm 23 had also been read at the funeral. Philippians 4 ended up with my Bible study friend who had come to support me. Philippians 4:8 is a frequent topic at our Bible study. I had no idea who would get which passage when I put the folders together. I trusted that God would take care of the details.

I went there thinking I was going to share something with them, but I left feeling pretty blessed myself.

And now I’m wondering about that next nudge. What about you? Is God nudging you to take the next step?

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About Make Monday Matter

Make Monday Matter is my weekly Christian devotional where I share reflections on faith, running, and the small ways God shows up in everyday life.