By Trevor Wright

I recently underwent the mental torture caused by the simple act of having lost one’s diary. Jesus even had a story or two about such lost things, so He understands (Luke 15).

You will know what I mean. You look everywhere about a zillion times and in places even where it is not likely to be. One’s beloved spouse comes alongside, as one’s beloved should, of course. “Where do you remember last having it?” Kind questions spoken in great support. The unspoken answer is, of course: “If I knew where I last had it, it wouldn’t be lost, would it?”

I was tortured, tantalised, teased by patently silly thoughts just as to where it might be. I am living proof of old and cranky, tormented, tortured, tested – and failed.

  “Well, Lord, could you help me by prompting me where to look, I am sure it is not at home here.” Well, he gave me a God Prod. I rang the shop He brought to my mind, and they said that they thought they had seen such a book, but they were in the act of shifting premises, so could I call at their new place, the next day? Sure could! And sure enough, there it was.

“Thanks Lord, for that lead. Now, I would like You to prompt my mind, and help me to have the confidence to follow it through; where there are things I should do, people I should talk to, or go and see, or whatever is on Your mind. You have promised to give me the desire of my heart, and that is my desire, to be more effective for You, and for others.”

I suppose you could call it a God-Nod, or a Lord Accord – or some other catchy thing. I have heard it called a Holy Nudge. I know a special person who experiences these mental elbow-in-the rib alerts, they follow them up, and they always work out – for them.

Jesus, and me. It is teamwork, you see. It was Jesus who told us to go into all the World, so we do need His guidance, His company and His direction. Not only did He give us a task to do, He also promised He would keep us company as we are obediently doing it.

Matthew 28:20: “Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

So, therefore, our prayer for His prompt is more for our sensitivity – rather than His activity! Maybe something positive came out of losing my diary, after all.