TODAY'S WOMAN AT THE WELL MOMENTS

I'll never forget the story of love that changed it all. I was about two months into my prayer walks, and I began to ask Jesus lots of questions about what He wants to do, whether that be on a Sunday or with the person I was meeting that day. In response, I would faintly hear a word or two and would just be so excited to obey. At this point, I just wanted to risk. I wanted to see if hearing The Father -as Jesus lived -was available (John 5:19). 

Even if I heard, "I want to bring peace this Sunday,” I would ask Jesus, "where do you see that in the passage I am studying" and a passage of the text would highlight in my mind's eye. I would have this immediate impression that if people truly believed what was highlighted to me that His very presence of peace would flood their hearts. 

So I would say from the pulpit, "I believe Jesus is in the mood to bring peace." That some of you, when I just preached that point of "we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7) that He would flood you with peace. "If that's you, I'm just going to pause this message and ask that you stand, and I am going to pray for peace." I would say, "Jesus, thank you, you're here. It's in your heart to release peace; come and release You, Prince of Peace.” So fun. 

Back to the original game-changing story. 

As I was walking up the regular loop, a hiker passed by me—a woman in her 50's. People pass me all the time, but when she passed, Jesus interrupted, and I heard (with the kindest and matter-of-fact tone) "her sister misses her, and she should call her.” I had that moment we all feel when we think we lost our wallet or are about to hit the stage for the first performance we've ever done. 

I thought, “what??!! Jesus, do you want me to go and tell her that?” I thought, ‘I tell our church all the time to take risks.’ So I do. 

This poor woman can probably hear the panting of a thirty-seven year old man chasing her down, saying, "excuse me, ma’am, excuse me.” She finally realizes, ‘he’s talking to me,’ and she stops with a pause like, ‘don't make me use my bear spray.’ 

I said, (from at least 10 feet away and the biggest smile), "I'm so sorry for running, but I'm a Christian and this never happens, but I think I heard something from God for you, can I share it?" Before she tried to think of how to respond to a sentence shes' never heard before, I say, "I started practicing hearing God's voice, and I think He may have shared something.”

Sidenote, the whole time I am running to talk to her, I',m thinking, "what if she doesn't even have a sister?" You're not hearing James.” But then she says, "Okay." Her face looked very intrigued but skeptical. I said I felt like He said, "your sister misses you, and you should call her.” 

No lie, the moment I got the first part of that sentence out, her shoulders sank down with love and acceptance tears filled her eyes. "My sister just moved to New York .” The Covid pandemic had just hit New York. She said, "And I was beating myself up all morning in anxiety if I should call her or not.” 

I was also blown away with a compassionate awareness of Jesus' love for her as if she was the very woman at the well in John 4. I don't remember what I said next, but I told her something like, ‘God brought me on this mountain today because you are so valuable to him, and He sees how great of a sister you are.’ Can I pray for you?" She says "yes" and we have this powerful interaction where we just received His expressive tenderness and warmth.

I was so blown away that Jesus was still present in that way—in real-time. 

Jesus saw her; Jesus heard her inner cry and, just like the woman at the well, wanted to keep doing what He came to do. I just didn't know it could be that real in a way where I would follow Him in what He wanted to do for her. 

That's different than me going about my day wanting to please Him. This was me responding to Him and getting out of His way. Allowing Him to do what He wants was a whole new way of ministry I was just beginning to learn all about.