Whatever he tells you… Part 2
“Whatever he tells you...”
Sometimes "whatever" God tells you feels foolish, like circling a city for seven days and then shouting, or spending 100 years building an ark. We felt like when God told us to move to NYC, it seemed ludicrous. Sure, we like NYC, but moving there is completely different than visiting.
We want to share a testimony. Some of you have already heard this, but we hope that it inspires fresh faith. In 2022 God told us to go "get boots on the ground in NYC," live like missionaries, and pray for the city- three directives that we were sure we heard but weren't sure exactly how they would play out. Our sense was that "boots on the ground" meant we had to be in NYC physically, and "live like missionaries" meant we were to be available for God to use whenever, wherever, however, with whoever. As far as praying for the city goes, we imagined it to mean that we would be walking and praying all over the city on a weekly basis.
We weren't in a position to move into NYC, but we knew we needed to find a way to get to the city on a regular basis as quickly as possible. God opened a door for us to stay in Natalia’s Aunt’s vacant house in East Philadelphia until we got some things sorted out. So, in April of 2023, we sold our stuff, and moved to Philly. It was a location that positioned us to travel to NYC frequently. In fact, we committed to traveling into NYC every weekend. Even if we couldn't be there every day yet, we could "get boots on the ground," work like missionaries, and pray.
After unpacking our things in Philly, the first time we were able to go to NYC was one year ago on May 5. Some ministry friends of ours from Georgia were very unexpectedly in NYC that day, and they invited us to come minister with them. We said yes, not really knowing what we were saying yes to. The gathering was a massive prayer and worship event on a stage in the center of Times Square! Locals and tourists were in full "Let's celebrate Cinco de Mayo!" mode, and Times Square was packed.
Someone from the other ministry who was going onto the stage to pray later in the evening said that God had been telling them all week that they were supposed to ask someone else to come on stage to pray with them. They realized after we arrived that it was me (Nic). It was somewhat of a surreal moment.
A couple of days later I received the picture above from someone at the event. When I saw it I realized that because we were "boots on the ground" and available for God to use whenever, wherever, however, with whoever, I was in a position to pray over the city… on a stage with a microphone in the middle of Times Square. And, this completely unplanned moment was a kind and encouraging confirmation for us that we heard God clearly and obeyed. That provided us with something we absolutely needed: faith to continue heading in the direction we were going!
Sometimes we question if we actually heard the voice of God because whatever we heard feels foolish. In these moments it takes faith to obey, and we have to act in faith before God brings confirmation that we heard him clearly… the kind of confirmation that instills even greater faith to continue being faithful.
In Joshua 3, the priests had to carry the ark of the covenant through the Jordan river to get to the promised land in Jericho. The priests had to walk into the water carrying the ark of the covenant and wait to see if the water would stop. It wasn't like when Moses led the Israelites into the water and they watched the water separate into two towering walls in front of them. With Joshua and the Israelites at the Jordan river, they became responsible for first surrendering in obedience to God's instructions and getting into the river before it stopped. They obeyed what God told them to do. They didn't wait for a confirmation in order to obey. This time they received the confirmation after they obeyed. But once they did, God was kind not only to confirm that they heard him clearly, he also confirmed his presence with them and his promises to them. Lord, increase our faith!
It was such an honor to get to personally pray over 2 of New York’s finest at the event in Times Square. I’ve prayed for them for years from afar, and to get to stand next to them, lay hands on them, and say thank you for all they do to serve and protect was a sweet gift from the Lord. He has given me such a heart for first responders in NYC.