Whenever my father experiences a coincidence or serendipitous happening he calls it a “God wink”. Sometimes God speaks to us through these God winks; using them as a way to affirm, validate, or draw our attention to the stirrings of our inner voice. The experience will instantly resonate with a Christian’s inner spirit, speaking its message directly into their heart.
Matthew 10:20 For it won’t be you doing the talking – it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (NIV)
Recently I was caught up in a God wink experience. One Sunday morning the inspiration and subject matter for a new devotional swept over me sending me to my keyboard. By nightfall I had prepared a submission I called, Sticks and Stones. The next morning I opened my email and the bold text of the days Devotional read – Sticks and Stones. What was going on? I hadn’t sent mine anywhere last night, had I? Momentary confusing muddled my thoughts as I scrolled down to read the body of the text. Sticks and stones will break my bones… it was the same introduction. But selections aren’t published that quickly; there is a refining process, editing, scheduling. As I read further and the words became unfamiliar to me, although the theme was similar; words can hurt so show kindness through your actions.
Later that same day I shared the Sticks and Stones God wink experience with my sister. What my sister said in response to this Sticks and Stones story was remarkable. The sermon given at her church on Sunday was titled, Sticks and Stones; and the theme was kindness through words and deeds.
1 Corinthians 3: 10 But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deepest secrets. (NIV)
God was using His people to spread His message of love, both corporately and personally. God’s corporate message repeated throughout each of the Sticks and Stones versions, urges us all to walk in love. The God wink part of the Sticks and Stones stories speak a loving and personal message directly to the hearts of those involved in penning and delivering the words – keep listening, God is using you.
Christians truly are God’s Ambassadors here on earth. Our actions and words do matter. The God of the Bible is actively using His followers to spread His message today. We are part of His ongoing story to humanity. Keep watching and listening, and may God wink at you too.
Prayer Heavenly Father, we thank You for giving us spiritual eyes and ears to help us as we go about Your work. Help us grow confident and proficient in their use. Thank You for using each of us in unique ways to carry out Your work here on earth. Thank You for speaking to us directly and personally; in ways that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt are messages from You. Thank You for using God winks as one method of communicating Your messages of affirmation, love, comfort, guidance, and unity to Your people. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.
London, Ontario, Canada