The earliest memory I have of hearing His voice happened one fall afternoon when my prayer buddy, Patti, and I took a walk. I had been feeling depressed and she tried to encourage me. No matter how hard she tried, I just could not honestly agree that I knew things would get any better. I was, however, able to connect with my feelings and have a good cry. We walked on, and after a bit, we stopped, sat down by a ravine, and Patti put her arm around my shoulder and prayed for me.
When I looked up and out over the ravine, I was amazed at the number of leaves covering the ground. Then suddenly it seemed leaves were falling everywhere, from every tree-- more falling leaves than I had ever seen before, all over the ravine. In the stillness, with only the sounds of rustling leaves and birds, I heard a still small voice speak to me through Matthew 6: "Do not worry...look at the birds of the air...not one of them will fall to the ground without me knowing...look at the leaves falling on the ground, I know each one of them...how much more you are worth to me."
I breathed a sigh of relief, laid my head on Patti's shoulder for a moment, and closed my eyes. In that moment I felt God's presence like never before. Patti faded out and Jesus took her place. My spiritual eyes revealed Jesus, in a pure white robe, sitting beside me, and putting His arm around me. I had read 1 Corinthians about how we are all part of the body of Christ, but never was it more real to me than in that moment. As I think back, I am reminded of Bruce Carrols lyrics in "Who Will Be Jesus"..."Wounded People everywhere,/And when they look at us,/ Do they see Jesus there?/Who Will be Jesus to Them?"
I am forever thankful that God brought Patti into my life as my prayer buddy to be Jesus to me on that day and many other days through many other years. More than twenty years later, we continue to walk with Jesus through all that "life throws at us" as prayer buddies.
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