In the summer of 2021, God placed a burning desire in my heart to attend Bible school. I had always wanted to go, but this time, the call was undeniable. I made a plan: I would enroll in a specific Bible college, save up a certain amount of money, and then apply.
"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." – Proverbs 16:9 NLT
I made my plan, but God had other plans.
On the last day of May 2022, the desire to attend Bible school was still burning within me. I intended to apply that fall. On that day, a girl I volunteered with in the youth group got my number from the youth pastor and texted me. She invited me to join her and another girl at a church in another state. I had heard of the church before, but I thought it was a different one. That night, I felt a nudge to look up the church on YouTube. I did, and I ended up binge-watching their services.
During one service, they announced a ministry school. Instantly, I felt in my spirit that this was where God wanted me to go. I visited their website and checked out the school. But when I saw the cost, I thought, "God, you know I don't have this money, so why are you calling me here?" I set the idea aside, unsure of how it would work out.
The very next day, my dad called and said, "I want to pay off your car." That was definitely a God thing! I used the money I had set aside for my final car payment to cover the school application fee and the initial costs. A couple of weeks later, I was accepted into the school!
But that wasn't the end of God's provision. To cover the rest of the costs, God provided me with a job that lasted for a year and a half, giving me the financial means to pay for Bible school. It was another clear sign that I was exactly where He wanted me to be.
I thought I was going there to learn the Bible and earn a certificate saying, "Congratulations, you're qualified for ministry." But God had a different purpose. I was there to be with Jesus. I was there to deepen my relationship with Him, to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and to experience the heart of Jesus. Yes, I wrote book reports and learned some interesting things, but most of the time, I was crying, on my face, just soaking in the presence of Jesus.
I remember during my first year, in February, the Spirit moved so powerfully that one church service lasted until midnight. It could have gone even longer, but the church was renting the building, so they had to stop. After that, the Spirit swept through our groups. We couldn't even get to our lessons; we just worshipped and invited the sweet presence of Jesus in. It was beautiful! The Spirit was so strong in that season that we were even told it was okay to submit assignments late because the focus was on being with Jesus.
My second year was the same. Sometimes, we would just worship and cry. It was beautiful. I can honestly say that those two years are when I truly fell in love with Jesus. It was hard to say goodbye in May, but it has prepared me for what Jesus has in store for my future.
Interestingly, I never texted that girl back, but I'm so thankful God used her to invite me to that church. Her act of obedience was what God used to shift my plans into His plans.
" But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42 KJV
Comments