I’m an idea girl. I get these ideas in my head – some small and easy to accomplish, and some very grandiose and complex. Some of these ideas are self-generated and some are, I believe, prompted by God and my faith.
The ones I think up on my own usually have to do with renovating the house, or a new diet or exercise regimen. I make a plan and then it’s up to me to accomplish the tasks I choose in order to bring the idea to fruition. I can tell you honestly that the ones having to do with home improvement seem to get done much more easily than the ones related to self-improvement. And I don’t think I’m alone in that…But that’s another post.
There are also ideas that are placed in my mind or in my spirit that don’t originate with me. They may enter my thoughts as a gentle whisper or may echo repeatedly like someone beating on the door of my heart. When the seed of an idea is planted in me, I often can’t see how I will get from point A to point B.
One such idea began a couple of years ago. A local news station presented a weekly spotlight on children in foster care looking for permanent homes and families. As I watched those segments, I began thinking that we should pray about providing a home for an older child who would soon age out of the system. Someone that would need guidance about life after high school. Someone looking for a mentor to help them grow into young adulthood.
After pondering it for a while, I talked to my husband about it. He was open but cautious. (He’s the realistic one in the family).
Little did I know that God was already working in the background of our lives to prepare us for what He would ask us to do.
You see, my husband and I had recently been on a mission trip to Honduras and had gotten to know a couple of the young translators who had assisted us. When we left there, we let them know that if they were ever in the US to come and stay with us.
Fast forward 3 months — one of the translators came to visit and we decided to sponsor him to stay with us and apply to college. Six months after that, his younger brother also came to live with us!
The experience has been such a blessing in our lives. We are so glad to have been a part of this grandiose idea that God placed on our hearts. Two years ago when the thought first came to me that maybe we could help older teenagers navigate their way into young adulthood, I had no idea how God would make it happen.
It has been so amazing to see how God has worked all of the details out for these young men (ages 22 & 20). One is going to college on a Student Visa and one is working on a Work Visa. They recently moved into an apartment and are now completely self-sufficient. They are so loved and truly part of our family.
If God prompts us to do something, you can be sure He’ll provide all that we need to complete the task. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 puts it this way. “May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”
As I said earlier, ideas may be small and simple to do or gigantic and seemingly unachievable. But if God knocks on the door of your heart with an idea, you can know without a doubt that He will provide the power to accomplish it.
So be an idea girl who follows the promptings of her faith, and let God take care of the details!
