Holy Hunches, God Nudges & Spiritual Sparks
Read to the end for some encouraging stories of God at work!
If there’s one thing you need, it’s a good gut!
I know, I know - gut health is everywhere these days.
Probiotics, yogurt, and (brace yourself) legumes… just saying the word makes me wince! 😳 🤢 According to the experts, a healthy gut supports digestion, strengthens immunity, helps regulate weight, and may even reduce the risk of chronic diseases by keeping our inner ecosystem in balance.
But let’s be honest: you’re not here at The Hopeful Rhino for the latest medical advice, are you? No… That’s good because…
The kind of gut I’m talking about goes way deeper.
I mean learning to trust those holy hunches… the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit. That “gut feeling” you get when you sense you should (or shouldn’t) do something.
Looking around, it seems many of us have either never learned to listen to the Holy Spirit in this way or have gotten out of the habit. If that’s you, let us help you change that today.
I’ll never forget what our old Pastor, Alan Nunn, used to say:
“God gives us a conscience so we can partner with the Holy Spirit.”
Our conscience is a tool the Lord wants to use to partner with him in good works.
The more we pay attention to Him, the sharper our spiritual senses become. But it works in reverse, too… the more we ignore those inner convictions, the duller our awareness of God’s voice gets.
Pastor Nunn would compare it to an Aussie 50-cent piece: keep ignoring the Spirit’s promptings, and it’s like sandpapering the edges until it’s worn down, it’s lost its value, and it looks like a 20c piece instead.
We’re not meant to live life in our own strength!
If we’re going to be sharp to the Spirit’s voice, we have to learn to trust our conscience - to listen to the umpire of peace, to step out and follow those little promptings, to ask God questions, and let Him lead us.
The right prompts change everything.
The world has gone A.I. crazy. All the talk is about ChatGPT and writing good prompts. We’re happy to listen to its wisdom. We ask questions and get information. But… could it be we’ve neglected the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
Instead of trusting A.I. for wisdom, what if we asked the Lord:
How do you want to use me today?
Where should my eyes be open to see You today?
How can I best serve my family this week?
What do my neighbors, friends, or colleagues need?
Where are You already at work?
What should I be listening for today?
Who’s your Ethiopian Eunuch?
Take a minute to read the story of Philip & the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26–40).
Notice how God sent Philip to share what he knew, and then God moved him on in an instant.
God is at work…
I remember when we were preparing to plant our church. I reached out to a local congregation to see if they’d let us use their building when they were not using it. They’d already said no before, but one morning, over coffee and my Bible reading, I felt the Lord say, “Try again.”
I could have ignored it, but what did I have to lose?
I called the church again, and as it turned out, a new venue manager had started that day. Not only that, but the previous tenant had just moved out. Miraculously, we could use the building! The timing of the Lord made a way. So, not long after that, we started gathering there. God was at work, and I’ve been endlessly grateful for that simple nudge to “try again.”
Or what about the time one of our friends saw someone rummaging through the trash at a local gas station looking for food? He felt prompted to offer some hot cross buns he’d just bought for Easter. That small act led to an invitation to church. When the man timidly walked into church, he was coincidentally greeted by an old friend he knew from years prior. God reconnected them because of a nudge to share some food and a brave invitation.
Or… another time recently, when I texted a friend I hadn’t seen in a very long time. I couldn’t stop thinking about her all day, so I reached out only to discover their baby was in the hospital on life support. We prayed and were able to support my friend through a tough time, all because I followed the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
So the question is W.I.J.D?
Back in the day, wrist bands with the letter’s WWJD on them were the latest Christian trend. I don’t know if you remember them, but the letters stood for “What Would Jesus Do?”. The idea was to wear the band as a reminder to live how Jesus lived. I don’t know if they made anyone change their behaviour, but I like to think they helped.
I wonder if we could use a new wristband today? One that would say “WIJD” - “What Is Jesus Doing?”. It would remind us to live as Jesus lived 2000 years ago, but even more than that, to engage with what Jesus is doing right here, right now!
What Is Jesus Doing?
Friends, Jesus left His Spirit to reside in us. The Holy Spirit’s role is to lead and guide us in all truth. He’s leading and, oh so willing to nudge, prompt, and guide us. He wants us to listen. He’s looking for us to be attentive. And when we are, he’ll change us from the inside out… and he may just use us to help those all around us.
So let me ask you this today: if you get still for a moment, what is the Holy Spirit nudging you toward?
What is He asking you to do? Or to stop doing?
Who is it He is leading you to love, or show kindness to today?
Why not consciously give it a try?
Let’s listen for God, trust your “gut”, step out in faith, and take some God-sized risks.
After all, faith is meant to be an adventure.
Isn’t it?
So look for the Spirit’s sparks today!
Grace and Peace,
Cass & Rich