After all this time, we are getting to be pretty good friends, so I decided it’s time to share one of my Busted by God stories.

Here’s what sometimes happens: I get an idea. Someone or something prevents it going forward. Sometimes, I find myself “clearing” with a good friend rather than talking to God about it.

Then, the Holy Spirit gives me a check in my spirit. I am Busted by God. I KNOW without a doubt that HE HEARS it all!!

Well, a few months ago, God went a step further…past just the check in my spirit. I love it when this happens!

That morning, I had prayed “Lord Jesus, speak to me. I’m ready to listen and eager to obey.” Later that day, I was on the phone sadly describing a disappointment to a friend. I got that check in my spirit but continued to grumble anyway. Someone had hurt me and I wanted sympathy. Suddenly, I realized it was nearly time to get to the church, since I was scheduled to assist with communion. So, I rushed off the phone to go get myself dressed and out the door.

Then, I felt that check in my spirit again and thought of my morning prayer, but I was short on time, so I rushed to the table where my Bible and study tools were still open from the morning. And I grabbed up Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest all the while praying for God to “give me a word” that would direct my heart to Him and away from my complaints. And, He did just that!

I did what is known as “The Open Window Method”…open anywhere and expect God to speak. I know. I know. Yes, I was taking the lazy way out. But speak He did! (I LOVE THIS!) I happened to open to June 17. The title was “The Uncritical Temper”. And the verse at the top was: “Judge not that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1) I laughed right out loud. Yup! Busted by God! Because He loves me.

So, my eyes fell down the page and focused on something I had previously highlighted: “There is always one fact more in every man’s case about which we know nothing…I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.”

Is that cool, or what?! Remember I was on my way to serve communion. It would NOT have been OK to have pride and criticism in my heart. Rather, I had opportunity to confess on my way there and to receive the forgiveness and cleansing promised.

Well, if you think that was the end of my Father’s lesson to me that evening, you are wrong. He gave me an opportunity to see if I took the lesson to heart…or had it merely been head knowledge.

As I passed one of the communion plates down the aisle, a lady with great disdain on her face corrected me (it was so animated that everyone else knew what was happening). She had rebuked me for the way I was serving. Ahhh. I remembered my lesson. I had told God that morning that I was ready to listen. And I did. I felt His love. And I let Him love her by using me….and praying silently for her to be blessed. (BTW, I also prayed for Him to remind her that she, too, was about to take communion…just in case He was so busy with me that He forgot about her. 🙂 )

There is yet another part of this story of grace and mercy and love…

It’s the part that happened after church. I walked over to her and thanked her for her help and told her that next time I would try to remember to do what she had suggested. That was definitely God loving her by using me. Believe me when I tell you that I would not have thought of doing that on my own.

Being Busted by God is a good thing! And when you are His child, it feels like LOVE!

Have you had a time that you were Busted by God? Would you bless me by leaving your story in the comments section of the blog! We will ALL thank you! And God will be blessed!