Living Bible

By Sandra Clifton

It was a Sunday morning. I was almost out the door--with Bible, keys, purse, prayer badge, pen and notebook--when I heard it.

It wasn't a thunderous voice but a quiet one. It came over me like a gentle wind. Nevertheless, the force of it stopped me in my tracks.

Clearly, the Spirit of the Lord was speaking.

"Go get the Living Bible."

Strange, I thought. Why? I always used the New King James.

"Go get it."

Juggling my armload of stuff, I re-entered the kitchen, throwing everything on the table. Then I headed for the bedroom closet. Ten minutes later, I emerged with a copy of the Living Bible, still not knowing why the Lord had prompted me to get it.

By the time I entered the sanctuary, it was nearly filled. I slid into a cramped aisle seat, balancing two Bibles on my lap along with all my other things.

While I was getting settled, a thought occurred to me: The second Bible must be for saving a seat. Of course, Lord! While I was at the altar with the other prayer partners at the end of the service, my Bible would be securing my pew space for the second service. Lord, You think of everything!

Someone was waving at me. It was Judy. She had received salvation three weeks ago. Her husband, Dan, still unsaved, was hostile about the whole "Jesus thing."

In my spirit I heard the Lord say, "Give her the Living Bible." Before I could remind Him about our save-the-seat deal, He spoke again: "Tell her it's a gift for Dan from Jesus."

"Here," I said, sticking the Bible in her hands. "It's for Dan from Jesus."

Judy's face turned sheet-white as she told me what had transpired that morning. She and Dan had another one of their fights about Jesus. Finally, Dan told her, "If someone sticks a Bible in your hand that a person can read and says it's for Dan from Jesus, then I'll know this Jesus guy is real."

Today Dan and Judy are in Tulsa preparing to preach the gospel. God had a better plan for my Bible than to save a seat; He wanted to save a soul. He knew before Dan was born exactly how He wanted to do it. (See Psalm 139:1-16)

Thankfully, I cooperated with Him. But what if I had not listened to the Holy Spirit? Sometimes His nudges are so gentle, His voice is so soft. Yet God's Word reminds us that His sheep know His voice-- and that when we obey it, we bear fruit for eternity.