Last week my divine purpose story ended where I had gone to a Fort Lauderdale, Florida beach retreat center.  During a prayer circle, I was overwhelmed by what I now realize was God’s grace-full presence. 

I had been too busy courting the “world” to spend much time courting my Creator.  I now found that the world had been crowding Him out.  

I drove Gail and myself home in my apple-red convertible, MG TF-1500.  The wind was blowing through our hair and the faithful Florida sun was shinning brightly. Gail started singing some church songs that I had known in years past. I did not think these songs were “cool,” to use today’s youth vernacular, but I joined in.

Some songs were: “What a Friend We have in Jesus,” “Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior,” “I Love Him - Because He First Loved Me.”  This went on for most of our drive home. 

TOUCHED BY A NEW DIMENSION
I had felt touched by a new spiritual dimension, but then life took on it’s usual routine.  On Friday nights my friend still attended her prayer meeting and I realized later she was probably praying and having others pray for me. 

I continued going to dances and parties.  My activities were not all that bad.  None of my friends used drugs or were alcoholics.  But most of them would have though it was strange to be “so spiritually minded.”

I did not know how to become a whole person: spirit, soul, and body.  I did not know how to feed my spiritual inner being.  In fact, I did not know there was a difference between my spirit and soul. 

I had not been told that my spirit (pneuma) and soul (psyche) needed to be fed, just as my body needed nourishment.  I did not have a daily devotional to help me start my day with food from God, nor did I have a Bible Concordance to help explain Scripture so I could grasp it.  In my early twenties, I was biblically illiterate.

GOD MET US AT THE BEACH
Gail and I decided to go to the beach, and this time to do some actual sun bathing.  We found a white sandy spot at one of the Gulf Beaches, not far from my home in Tampa.  Spreading out our towels we were ready to get a good dose of vitamin D and a good tan.

After a while, we had a cold drink and began to talk.  Gail told me more about herself.  She said she had been a believer from early childhood, but that she had never gotten into a satisfying spiritual life until she learned that God had provided something more for Believers. 

I never pinned her down about when that occurred.  But here on the beach she distinguished between her conversion or salvation experience, and her empowerment or Pentecost experience.  She said, “After receiving the power of the Spirit, I began to study the charismatic gifts.  One of them, sort of like a ‘starter’ gift, helped me know how to pray when I did not know how.” 
I said, “Gail, I hardly even know how to pray nor do I spend much time doing it.” 
She smiled, then continued, “From that day on, I always had the words to pray beyond my own intellectual self.” 

I wondered how one prayed beyond one’s self. Then I said aloud, “Oh I wish I could do that!” 

I did not know it then but I had prayed my first Spirit – filled prayer. And God was listening.

This was an important message from Gail and very timely.  I did not know that my dear friend would be moving to North Carolina and would die suddenly while on her lunch break.  Gail’s death was a shocking “wake up” call to me!

Moses said, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 KJV mod.).
Next week I’ll tell you what happened.