Nourishing the Impoverished Soul (Part 1 of 3)

I learned the goodness of living with a clear conscience before God – to be able to trust and rely on Him for everything, and to feel that every prayer was a conversation with a Friend, Father and Almighty God.

The nightly Bible sharing and prayers, along with YTTC prayers, began to heal and nourish my soul. I learned the goodness of living with a clear conscience before God – to be able to trust and rely on Him for everything, and to feel that every prayer was a conversation with a Friend, Father and Almighty God.

My Promise

I kept my word to God and continued prioritising working on my faith. I frequently visited London church, which provided a good environment for my spiritual growth. I also planned my trips such that I could always keep the Sabbath in church wherever I went.

During this time, I grew much closer to both brethren who had contacted me, having much more frequent and edifying conversations, as well as with brethren from churches I was more familiar with. I also realised that with this, God had answered my prayer during YTTC. He gave me exactly what I asked for – two spiritual companions.

"A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgement." (Proverbs 18:1)

Returning To God

Coming across this verse while studying Proverbs with the sister, I reflected on my past self who shunned brethren at first instance. I believed I was managing my faith well alongside my secular life since I was still attending Sabbath services and serving in church. However, the Bible reminds us that no one can serve both God and mammon; that whoever desires to save his life will lose it. God helped me see my need for spiritual companions, to help me recognise my shortcomings and support me when I am weak.

"God thunders marvellously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth'; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength." (Job 37:5-6)

Remembering God's Grace Through Clear Skies

If you have heard the Christian song that goes, ‘What if Your blessings come through raindrops?’, that was exactly my experience in Ireland. With my very vulnerable faith at that time, the cold and windy weather often had me fighting an internal battle about whether to even get out of bed in the freezing mornings for church.

Thank God, He gave me strength not to succumb to this weekly struggle. If the cold wind were to be coupled with rain, I would have probably given up and stream services from home.

So, I specially prayed for favourable weather in the days leading up to Sabbath. Witnessing God stop the rain for my travels to and from church every single week for 5 months in the often-gloomy coastal city of Dublin, I began to see and be grateful for the small drops of grace in my daily life.

On one particularly memorable day, it rained heavily just before I left the house, during the four bus rides to and from church, and during service itself.

To God Be The Glory

However, the rain would miraculously and suddenly stop whenever I had to be outside between bus rides and right after service ended. Through these experiences, I was assured that the One with whom I had become close to through prayers, and whom I now knew was on my side, was the God of Heaven.