It may seem like a small thing, but as I spend so much time in my car, radio is my default go-to, be it Talk Radio, News, Music, or whatever. But given the fact that I often spend 3+ hours in my car each day, I have had to be much more intentional with my use of time. I have elected to spend much of this time in prayer and conversation with God. Sometimes, I will listen to sermons via podcast, but mostly, I pray.
Now, my method of prayer isn't exactly conventional, but I'm very easily distracted, so I needed something other than silent prayer to keep me on track and focused. So recently, I began praying out loud. It was weird at first, and sometimes still is, but I have found it incredibly liberating at the same time. I think it's mostly because not only am I saying it in my head and with my mouth, but I am also hearing myself say it - sort of recognizing, realizing, and admitting exactly what it is that I am saying to God.
I don't think it's for everyone, but it's doing wonderful things for me.
I have recently been struggling with some key decisions that need to be made in my life. Life-changing career-type decisions. Decisions that I don't want to make half-heartedly, and so I have been praying for ultimate clarity and guidance. Well, I'll just come out with it, after all, this blog is anonymous... I've been feeling called to full-time ministry for some time now, and the process of sorting out that call and the next steps are the decisions I'm talking about.
I don't think that those prayers have been fully answered, and whether or not they ever will is another discussion entirely, but the other day, I saw one facet of my prayer come to life.
I was driving to a client's home in Tacoma. And praying, out-loud, "God, this is just so hard. If you'd just give me a sign... Like a burning bush kind of sign... I don't know if that's fair for me to ask, God, but it would really make things more clear."
Arriving at the customer's house, I began to work. About a minute into what I was doing, he looked at me, and flat out asked, "So, are you going to be a minister or what?"
Crazy. I think God gave me a burning-bush.