I had an amazing week last week. It started on Monday when I got onto the tube to attend the first day of a theology course. I found a seat (to my surprise – it was 9am). The person next to me looked up and I realised I was sitting next to a member of my church, also doing the course, which was great as I didn’t know exactly where I was going! What a coincidence to find his carriage, out of all the carriages, and for the seat next to him to be vacant!

As it happened the tubes had been suspended so our journey was prolonged. However, we managed to pass the time chatting so I barely noticed the long journey. Some of our conversation was about my son who I had concerns for. This man runs the kids’ group which my son goes to at church so he was able to give me a different, more positive perspective on my son - for which I was really grateful.

That evening my husband told me he had bumped into a lady from church who had seen my request for an mp3 player on freecycle (an online service for recycling unwanted goods). She felt led to bring her spare one to the service that Sunday to give to me if I was there. Funnily enough I had been prevented from being there, and just as well, as my own mp3 player had turned up in a toy box! She was glad as she had not really wanted to part with her mp3 player but had been obedient to God’s prompting. I was so blessed that someone had thought of me and been willing to respond to a need even though I had no knowledge about it.

The following day I needed someone to pray with over an issue God was dealing with in my life. I felt prompted to ring a friend who was initially reluctant, as she was run off her feet that week. However, she relented and gave up her precious time to minister to me and we had an amazing time with God. She later reported that God had more than honoured her obedience and she had completed everything she had planned and had been blessed in the process.

Thursday Women was another place of blessing and God again really spoke to me through the meeting and ministered his grace, love and compassion wonderfully.

Then on Sunday I went to ‘The Five’ service. Sally was meant to be preaching but instead she said we were going to spend time with God. She described it as having a long hot soak in the bath: uninterrupted time resting in him. She set up stations around the room for us to visit to spend with God. One of them was the most beautiful table set for two. It was like a romantic dinner, a rose on the plate of one person, with bread, wine and a lit candle. It was a really intimate affair talking and listening to our father in heaven. Another had a load of bibles stacked loosely on top of each other, randomly opened at a page with a bookmark saying “You are enough.” I picked up a bible and God once again spoke to me through his word very personally.

Why am I relaying this to you? I had not planned to have such an intimate time with God but he had chosen to engage with me through my ‘chance’ meetings, other people’s obedience and time to ‘soak in the hot bath’ of his love. All I had to do was to be aware of his wooing me, vulnerable and ultimately willing to listen to his still small voice. Our God wants to be intimate with us, more than we probably realize, if only we would take time out of our busy schedules to let him. Let’s not miss out.