Answered prayer

I have started going to the gym in the mornings and I spend an hour on the stationery bike. I have decided (with the help of my kids) that it's time for me to take charge of my health and do my part to be a strong, healthy and happy human being. 
It is so important to realize that when, in 1 Cor 10:13, we are told to "do all for the glory of God", that means everything, including how we manage our health. I feel a bit ashamed that it has taken me this long to see the eternal importance of being a good steward of ALL of my resources, including this physical form God made for me, but I am happy that I'm here now.
Back to the gym.... While I am spending my hour on the bike, I use that time to pray. I pray for those who are on my prayer list and I also pray for whatever God leads me to pray for.
Yesterday, as I was praying, I was moved to ask God to give me direction and insight. We've now been in this Covid world for 6 months and I am also 2 weeks since having a surgery that I'd been waiting about 9 months for. It is time to move forward. But where? And how?

So I prayed and left the answer to God.

Today, a friend called me. I had met Svein at Missions Fest where I spoke earlier this year. It was a providential meeting as he is involved in Open Doors ministries and I also have a heart for persecuted believers. We have kept in touch via Facebook and I so appreciate his Godly passion also for persecuted believers.

We have corresponded over the year on a few matters, and then a few days ago, he asked if he could call me. Of course I said yes.

I had no idea that this phonecall was going to be God's answer to my prayer of yesterday. As Svein and I spoke, he shared so many things and among them were 2 passages of Scripture. One from Luke 3:1-2 where, among all the important and wealthy people of the day, God chose John to be his messenger. John was an outsider who lived and dressed differently from other people. He definitely would not blend seamlessly into crowds of people in the cities. Svein's reference was so poignant to me because I too live differently from a lot of other people. I don't live in a house or an apartment. I live in an RV and my only wish is that I could be more mobile, not less. I am not wealthy and do not keep up with new fashions.
Of all the Biblical characters that could have been referenced in our conversation, John is one I can relate to very well. I cried tears of gratitude as Svein talked about God choosing John. If God would choose an oddball like John, surely He could also choose an oddball like me! 

So often I feel inadequate, ill equipped, unworthy to be called to anything great in God's kingdom and yet, today, I was reminded of who John was and yet he was specifically chosen.
My heart is full of joy, gratitude and hope as I know that I am someone that God can use for his amazing purpose.

The next passage that Svein referenced was Jeremiah chapter 1.  Jeremiah thought he was too young to be used by God but God's reply was to ask Jeremiah what he saw in front of him and then God went on to explain his meaning and message for Jeremiah by these simple items that Jeremiah saw.

When God calls us, he will inform us of his purpose through what is already around us. He meets us where we are to take us to where he wants us to go.
What do I see in front of me? God can speak to me and show me the next leg of this journey for me by simply opening my eyes to what's around me.  
Look around, Linda. What do you see?

Thank you, my friend, for being faithful in making that call to me today and for being faithful in speaking the message that God gave you for me.

I am, as always, humbled, inspired and blessed that God goes to the trouble to reach down to me to answer my prayer. 

As I said on the phone, I have no idea why God is so good to me but I am grateful that he is.

And I am grateful for this wonderful answer today to yesterday's prayer.