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Have you ever argued with God? Have you ever been hesitant to do as he asked? I think if we are honest, we all have. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to my friend, Debbie Kitterman, as she shares her testimony about God using her as a reluctant encourager.

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The Reluctant Encourager
By Debbie Kitterman

β€œNoooo,” I whined aloud, β€œI don’t want to. I want to go home and sleep.”

I set my jaw like a two-year-old about to pitch a fit and made my plans. I was going to ignore the thought that just popped into my head. I did not want to go to the new church property and pray. I wanted to go home!

Then it came again, the thought to go to the church property and pray.

β€œNO!” I shouted to the empty car. β€œNo! I am going home.”

I had just made an early morning trip to the airport to pick up my boss. She was now safely deposited at her home, and I was going to mine.

I had my plans and I was sticking to them. I set my jaw and grit my teeth as I continued to drive down the road. My plans for the day were to go home, crawl into bed for a few hours and then go pick the kids up from school. I had it all worked out. I didn’t want to do anything or see anyone. I just wanted to climb into bed and sleep.

The thought came again. β€œOk” I shouted, β€œI am going home, going to bed and that is it. I don’t want to go to the church property and pray. Not even for a minute. I have my plan and I am sticking to it.”

Have you ever argued with God? Yeah?

Me too!

But guess what? He always wins. A – L – W – A – Y – S!

I was about to pass the point of no return. My car was almost through the light where I would need to turn to go to the church property. My mind said keep on going, but then at the last minute I turned the car and made the right turn.

I was frustrated, but I knew after the third time the thought had popped into my head, that God was asking me to go to the new church property and pray. If I didn’t do it, I knew I would be flat out disobeying.

As I came to the dead-end road, I glanced out toward the gazebo which had been built on the property for people to pray in. It was not empty as I had hoped. β€œUgh,” I groaned. β€œNow on top of not wanting to be here, I have to be social” I mumbled under my breath.

I contemplated driving around the cul-de-sac and heading for home, but then the people in the gazebo stood up and started waving frantically at me. There was no way for me to leave and not have to answer some series of questions later about being rude. Reluctantly I parked the car, got out, took a deep breath and headed towards the gazebo.

From a distance I couldn’t tell who was waving at me, but as I got closer, I saw two church staff members. We had been former co-workers, before I took another job. They were acting strange like kids in a candy store as they anxiously awaited my arrival. As soon as I stepped inside the gazebo, they blurted out. β€œThis is so cool! Man, this is awesome! We were just praying together about a decision we have to make and said, β€˜wouldn’t it be cool if God sent Debbie here right now?!?’”

Wide eyed, mouth gaping open, I stared at them. I was in shock. My mind raced as I stumbled over what to say and how to respond…. β€œUhh …OK? What?” I plopped down on the wooden bench, rubbed my eyes and looked at them. β€œYou mean, you’re the reason why I am here?” They were grinning ear to ear like cats who just ate a canary.

β€œYes,” they said, β€œwe were just praying about a monumental decision and we are trying to figure out what God would have us do. But we don’t know how to discern what is God and what is not. We know you teach classes on hearing God, so we prayed and asked God to send you here.”

Well, this was a first for me, but I also knew God had a track record of sending people to those in need. After all, He sent Ananias to Saul (Paul), He sent Elijah to the widow, He sent Peter to the Ethiopian, and the list goes on. I also knew I could pray with them and help teach them to discern what was God and what was not.

We ended up talking and praying together for over two hours. As we were wrapping up, I confessed to them that I had almost driven straight home and not stopped. I told them about arguing with God all the way there, but that in the end I knew if I didn’t stop I would be blatantly disobedient.

As I walked to my car, I knew what had started out as me being reluctant, actually turned into a great time of encouragement for them and for me. They went away blessed with some answers and a decision. I went away knowing I had been obedient to God and a blessing to them. That day, God sent me to be His gift to help them in their time of need and decisions. I got to #BeTheGift of encouragement they needed right then.

God is calling us to be the gift of encouragement to others. Will you hesitate or obey? #encouragement #God #faith

To this day, when our paths cross, our day in the gazebo all those years ago inevitably comes up. It was a day that changed the course of their lives and one that changed mine. This is why I wrote my book, The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others. God is calling us all to #BeTheGift of encouragement the world needs today. He is looking for people who can hear His voice and are willing to respond. He is looking for those with available hearts ready to love the world around them. Join me in changing our world one encouraging word at a time.

The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others, a book when you need encouragement and want to encourage others.

About The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others

Change the World around You through a Lifestyle of Encouragement

From the beginning, God has been communicating with mankind, just as he did when he talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Yet far too many people believe that talking with God is extraordinary when, in fact, it should be an ordinary part of our Christian life. Jesus modeled this two-way conversation. He also embraced a lifestyle of encouragement, changing the atmosphere and lives of people everywhere he went. We can do the same.

Debbie Kitterman’s new book, The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others is full of powerful testimonies and practical application, this book will help you break out of your comfort zone and embrace a lifestyle of encouraging others–just as Jesus did. You will learn how to deepen your relationship with God, open a direct line of communication with him, and share his words with others.

Buy The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement here:Β  The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others.

 

About the Author

Debbie Kitterman is the author of the new book, The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement.Debbie Kitterman, is a breath of fresh air with a down-to-earth teaching style. As a prophetic encourager, she partners with churches and individuals to realize their God potential. Debbie is passionate about people claiming their God-given inheritance. Her teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible.

Debbie is an ordained Foursquare pastor currently serving with her husband as senior pastors of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. She is the author of Releasing God’s Heart Through Hearing His Voice and an international speaker. She is the founder and teacher of D2HTraining.com, an online course designed to equip believers in releasing God’s heart. She has been married to her high school sweetheart John for 28 years, and they have two grown children.

Her newest book, The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Words of God for Others, will be released by Chosen Books August 21, 2018.

To stay Connected with Debbie at:
Website: https://debbiekitterman.com
For more info on The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: https://debbiekitterman.com/gift-of-prophetic-encouragement/

Blog: https://debbiekitterman.com/blog/

Face Book:
Dare 2 Hear (ministry page) https://www.facebook.com/Dare2Hear/
Debbie Kitterman (personal page) https://www.facebook.com/debbie.kitterman

Twitter:
@Dare2Hear https://twitter.com/Dare2Hear
@DebbieKitterman https://twitter.com/DebbieKitterman

Instagram:
Dare2Hear https://www.instagram.com/dare2hear/

Pinterest:
Dare 2 Hear – Debbie Kitterman https://www.pinterest.com/debbiek1166/
Personal: Debbie Kitterman https://www.pinterest.com/dkitterman/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-kitterman/
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/107154550706929279386
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6x8hyeAtYUprFLrxWA41iw

This reluctant encourager knew God was leading her to pray at the church, but she didn’t know why until she arrived. #GodAnswersPrayer #encouragement #faith #prayer #God

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