The lady behind the airline counter looked as if she couldn’t have cared less. I was at the airline’s special help desk, holding my airline confirmation email for a flight now leaving in forty minutes.
“We have no record of your confirmation number in the system.”
I showed her my printed email. “Here’s the confirmation.”
The lady shrugged. “Not in our system. You must have booked it through an outside booking service.”
“I booked through the airline, see my email says it’s from United.”
“Can’t help you.
“Can’t you rebook the flight for me?”
“You are only allowed to book a flight by phone so I can’t help you and you now only have a 20-minute window to rebook.”
The blood rushed to my head as I thought about missing my ministry event and I stammered, “I feel dizzy.” In the flattest monotone I’ve ever heard, the clerk said, “Do you want me to call the paramedics?”
I suddenly felt like a character in a sitcom. I laughed. “No, I’m fine, just shocked that you all lost me.”
I shot off a prayer, Help me, Lord. I give You this dilemma.
I tugged my luggage to a bench and pulled out my phone to call the airlines, even though I was sitting in front of their own help desk. Once I had the flight, I returned to the counter, dropped off my suitcase, and dashed for the slow-moving security line.
Lord, it doesn’t look like I’m going to make it, my panicked heart whispered.I heard the Spirit whisper back. You will make it.
Were those quiet words from the Lord or from me?
I looked at my watch. I was stuck in security and my flight was already boarding and I still had to manage the train system, crowded escalators, and of course the Denver concourse.
You will make it, the peaceful voice said again.
Could this be true? I knew if I’d really heard from the Lord, the words were true for “God is ever true to His promises” (1 Corinthians 1:9 WNT).
And even though I had to run the airport gauntlet, I made it! The plane was still at the gate in its final moments of boarding.
Unbelievable! I was excited, not only was I going to make my ministry event, buI had heard from the Lord and kept my joy.
Hearing from God can simply be a matter of prayer. We can ask of Him, then we can listen for His voice. But listening with the Bible in our laps may be the best way to hear God speak to our hearts.
Just make sure you’re not confusing your own voice, or the voice of our enemy, for God. And remember that checking your “word from God” against God’s written Word is another failsafe.
Let’s pray to hear God’s voice: Dear Lord, help me to hear and recognize Your voice as I compare what You say through Your Word. I’m listening now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Linda Evans Shepherd is the founder and CEO of Right to the Heart Ministries and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and Arise Esther Evenings. She is the publisher of Leading Hearts Magazine and the author of 38 books.
Go to leadinghearts.com/printmagazine to order a print copy of this issue.
