Setting Down Roots

Lately I have been praying a lot asking if I'm in the right place, if I have truly followed God's voice or if I am just deceiving myself through confirmation bias. As a babe in Christ it can sometimes be hard to discern between following your own heart's desire and actually listening to God's voice. It is easy to fall in doubts when you listen to advice and input from others. But that can sometimes be a great test of your faith. It was for me. After moving to Montezuma, GA I was immediately immersed in a new community of Christians. I met many wonderful people in the first few weeks I arrived, which is somewhat unusual for most people who move to a new place, at least that is how it usually works for me seeing that I have a tendency towards being a bit of a homebody.

The man whose writings and correspondence Yahweh led me to in order to receive the Spirit and grow in faith lives here. Another friend who was also instrumental in my coming to faith in Christ visits here sometimes too since he is staying nearby. Both of these men have offered opposing viewpoints to me that have torn me in two different directions. On top of that I have the local community who are more inbetween the two viewpoints of my friends. Throw in my Facebook communications from several different sources and you can see how a person who likes to examine all evidence and views of a subject before deciding on a stance can be overwhelmed to the point of mental exhaustion. It was a real doctrinal rollercoaster and I got stuck at the top, having to find the courage to climb my way back down.

So recently I've been given a breath of fresh air. I reached the ground again and my feet have become firmly planted in His presence once more. What a relief! I really didn't know what God wanted of me for the last year but now He has sorted it all out. I probably needed to walk through this mess in order to find the order in the chaos.

God has been dealing with me through various ways helping me to hear His voice more clearly by signs, a strong knowing in my heart, actual words spoken to me in my mind... He can reach us in any way He wants to. The possibilities are endless. It is His creation after all. The heavens declare!

What happened was pretty simple but profound. I have been praying to God that if He wants me to stay put in Montezuma to help me lay down some roots. I have been wanting to do a garden for a while with all sorts of plants, trees and bushes and even had been doing some research on where to get them online. But you never know what you are going to get ordering online. I wanted to see the plants first and pick them out myself. I made a list of some rather unusual things that I didn't think I would find in middle Georgia including avocados, Cavendish bananas, Thai basil, Meyer lemons and limes that are small and patio-friendly and a number of other items. However since I hadn't been confident in His leading up to that point I didn't pursue it too seriously. It ultimately didn't matter to me if I got them or not. I only really wanted to do what He led me to do. And there's no sense in spending a bunch of time and money on a garden if I'm going to be called away from it.

That day I went shopping in Warner Robins for groceries and decided to first look at what was available at Lowes and Home Depot. The only item on my list I found was limes and it was the perfect size and shape I wanted. But it was $40 so I passed on it. On my drive home I was talking to God and said something to the effect of, "I really liked that lime tree but I just don't know if you want me to be setting roots here Father. Would you please help me to know your will for me once and for all so I can not be confused anymore? Maybe if that tree is still there next time I come back I'll buy it. I don't know. I just have to put this whole situation in your hands Father. Let me have peace and understanding if it be Your will."

Later that evening I had another a fervent, heartfelt prayer that laid heavy on my heart even the next morning, all about what I'm supposed to be doing, telling Him I feel like I'm lost and wandering aimlessly. After working a few hours on a website design for the roofing company I work for I did a little internet research and found a nursery in Perry called Easy Living Garden Center. I decided to give the place a visit just to get out of the house.

On a side note, part of my confusion also stemmed from my employment situation. I sell roofs for a living and hadn't been getting any calls for well over a month. I began to think that maybe I had lost a blessing or that God was going to call me somewhere else. If the "pillar of smoke and fire" moves I have to pull tent, pack down and follow (see Exodus 13 for the reference). Well on my way out to the garden store I started getting phone calls. I think there were 3 or 4 that day.

My first stop was Ace Hardware where I ran into my friend, the minister who helped lead me to Christ. His name is Joseph Herrin (www.heart4god.ws). Hmm, I thought. Fancy meeting you here! I found Thai basil there, which was unexpected, so I bought it. Then I left and went to Easy Living where I found the Cavendish banana tree I wanted as well as a nicely cared for blueberry bush for less than half of what they were at Home Depot and online! I bought them and put them in my little Yaris. Then I went to Home Depot. Not only was the lime tree I wanted still there but they now had Meyer lemons in small pots! I was really happy and bought both. I hopped across the street to Lowes and found avocado trees in the back! "Wow," I thought, "Every single item on my list has been made available for me today." I didn't buy the avodaco tree because I needed to do some research on them but I wound up coming home with a great bounty of awesome botanical goodness for under $120. That was way cheaper than it would have cost ordering online, and price was definitely a concern.

By the end of the day I knew that God had not only heard my prayers but He knew so far in advance what I was going to pray that He was ready to respond in His time, when the time was just right. On my way home I felt a peace and joy in my heart. I could relax and settle in for a while.

Then I got a text from my friend/minister's daughter about some furniture that someone was selling for a great price. And I do need some for my place. I think all the signs were there for me to know His response. He wants me to put down my roots here. Thank you Father Yahweh for hearing my plea and giving me the confirmation I needed at a time when I was considering walking away from the blessings you gave me. Thank you for condescending to me and giving to me in abundance the good things I've hoped for. I am willing to lay it all down for you Father but let me not doubt and throw away Your blessings. Let me count them and run with them in confidence. And I will wonder at Your good works.

Here is a great song that wraps up how I feel right now called "Firmly Planted" by Blane Dunnam:
http://eastgatemacon.com/
Scroll to the bottom to listen to it. May it bless you as much as it has blessed me.