RAMBLING: The Gideon Test

Gideon said to him, “If you find me acceptable, give me a sign that it is really you speaking to me Judges 6:17 (GW)


As the Lord was passing by, a fierce wind tore mountains and shattered rocks ahead of the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord wasn't in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire. But the Lord wasn't in the fire. And after the fire there was a quiet, whispering voice. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Then the voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:11-13 (GW)

The Gideon test? Not a very original subject heading but then is there any originality left? Some say...I haven't even started my "Rambling" and am side tracking already. Sorry! Have you ever questioned God about something? Anything? Maybe your faith is stronger than mine. Just in case there is someone out there, like me, who has questioned God or wondered about something I want to share this "insignificant" experience with you. Actually I have waited about a week or two to share this because it didn't seem all that significant in fact it was such a "small" thing it may not be important to you. Others here have much better and interesting experiences to share than I do. In fact after it happened it took awhile for it to sink through the thick haze in my mind. Actually I questioned whether such things actually happen in the 21st century. Maybe it was just a figment of my overworked imagination. I know there are doubters out there. I even tried to doubt what happened and I tried shaking my head to get rid of the thought. I questioned it over and over. Finally I field tested my experience with one of my sisters and my best friend. Though they gave me positive and encouraging feedback. Still....! Ok here is what happened. I came home from work one Saturday night around 11:30 pm and to say the least I was tired...nope I was exhausted, discouraged mixed with a dose of depression. Without even thinking of what I was doing I started thinking about how I would have to get very early to go to the early worship service which starts at 8:45 am. I have to walk several blocks in order to catch my bus. I thought of how tired I am in the morning like I never slept or at least how little I sleep. I practically have to crawl out of bed, try to stand up, my knee hurting like crazy with arthritic pain and limp and stumble to the kitchen to feed the cats and a cup of coffee for me. Ok you get the picture. So, again without really thinking I said, "God, do you really love me? If You do love me wake me up at 6:30 am totally refreshed in fact I won't even set my alarm clock." with the feeling " I don't wanna go to worship services 'cause I have to go work Sunday afternoon" feeling. At 6:23 am (funny how one remembers the time when something happened.) I awoke and then thought "this is nuts" and rolled over. Well I was awake I mean I was awake I got out of bed with little pain and fully awake, refreshed even. I fed the cats, had a coffee then it hit me. GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYER. HE LOVES ME! Literally, for the first time in months I didn't feel tired, worn out...I got ready and headed for worship services which I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't even dose off (like I sometimes do and wonder if I snored). All day I the thought of what happened stayed with me. I felt a bit of a warm glow in the pit of my being. I couldn't shake it. WOW...God let me know HE LOVES (present tense) ME! This is the third time this has happened that He has let me know I am loved, once when I was about twelve the second time when I was 19...but thats another story. Like Elijah we (this includes me) too often look for a dramatic sign from God to prove He is there beside us, with us and like Elijah we don't see or hear God. How many people rejected Christ even after He performed all those miracles including the raising of the dead? What may be insignificant to others is priceless to you. All I know is that God demonstrated He loves me.
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