Blog – 10-16-19 I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. I received a phone call from a woman from my church who was in extreme crisis. As she shared her story with me, I could hear the depth of her pain. She relayed in detail the suicidal thoughts she was having as a result of the years of sexual abuse she had suffered as a child. Her despair was deep and real and frightening. My heart broke as I listened to her, but I immediately felt overwhelmed and unqualified. This conversation occurred over 20 years ago, but I vividly remember the initial panic that overcame me. How could I possibly help her? Why was she calling me? Why wasn’t she going to our pastor or a trained counselor? What could I say to keep her from harming herself? I remember saying a prayer in my head and asking the Holy Spirit to guide my words. I had not experienced the things she was going through, but I knew unequivocally that God wanted me to be there for her in this moment of crisis. I knew God was asking me to simply be willing to stand in the gap for her. As I listened for guidance and called on the Holy Spirit, words came to me that were not from me. I knew exactly what to say to combat the lies the enemy was placing in her mind. I was able to share encouragement and love from a place I didn’t know existed within me. I recalled scripture from sermons heard years before. I literally felt the Spirit putting words in my mouth and a plan for her in my heart. We connected in a deep, life-changing way on the phone that night. And the good news is it was the start of her journey to entering a treatment center to receive the help she desperately needed. As I hung up the phone from that conversation, I remember so clearly the thoughts that raced through my mind. Mainly, where did those words come from? How did that just happen? How did I know what to say? An incredible peace washed over me as I realized the Holy Spirit had showed up in that moment in real time. My thoughts and words were definitely not my own. God had guided and directed me through every single part of it. It was obvious that none of it was me. It was truly a miracle. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11 I experienced this truth in real time that night so long ago. It was the Holy Spirit dwelling in me that was speaking. I discovered at an even deeper level that all God desires from us is to be willing to be used by Him. He will give us all we need through the power of the Holy Spirit when we simply say yes. This lesson has become invaluable in my life. When I’m speaking at retreats and women come up and share their hard stories with me, I trust that God will give me the words to say to offer encouragement and hope. I immediately ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and I don’t worry about it because I know God has already prepared the way. I encourage you, the next time you are in the midst of a hard conversation, when you’re looking for the “perfect” thing to say, simply pray. Ask the Spirit to give you the words you lack and to use you for His glory. Then trust and believe that you will know exactly what to say because of who God is, working in and through you. As followers of Christ, this is one of the greatest ways we can be used, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us..in Real Time! Hugs and love. Jill