5 Hour Walk

Yesterday afternoon I decided to take some of my quiet time with God on a walk - I don't know exactly what prompted it, but I think it was God.    I started on my walk just listening to where He told me to go, when to turn and when to go straight.   When I didn't hear as clearly I tested different ways and went the way that I had the most peace with.    Typical God, He didn't tell me what I was "walking" into and with good reason.  Had He told me that I would be on this walk for at least 4-5 hours I would not of gone on it.  Had He told me that I would have to endure some high temperatures (high 80's*F / low 30's*C) walking in direct sunlight for this long and have no water, and feel that I can't go any further without collapsing, or if He had told me that my feet would hurt so bad at some points or had He told me that I would be stopping at several stranger's houses, I would not of gone.    But He didn't tell me any of that, and I am grateful as I, looking back, had a really good walk that was worthwhile.  The entire time on my walk I had a 81-song (6hr 46min) playlist of worship songs playing, so that I could keep my focus of the walk on God.    He talked to me and told me of things that He wanted me to do - for example He does want me to get a job next year while I'm at school, though I don't know yet if I should get one over the summer or not.   He also shared with me an insight on a Word a friend gave me before I left Canada.  It didn't make much sense at the time, but It makes more sense now.     Through my walking God told me when I was allowed to drink some water from my water bottle and how much I could drink.  He knew that I would not have enough in this bottle to last me the whole time, but He was testing me on obedience - I asked way more often than He allowed me.  When my bottle almost ran out the first time I was allowed to stop at a nearby house to ask if they would refill it.  The older lady who answered her door (after her small dog answered the knock) told me there was a faucet just around the corner.  I looked and didn't see it, so I asked her where it was again and she came out to show me.  But once she came out, she decided to just take my water bottle inside and fill it up in there.   She even offered to put ice in it (well that is until she found that her ice didn't fit into my bottle).  She was super nice and friendly for having a stranger stop by for some water.   We talked for a minute or two and I found that she knew (and really liked) my great aunt/uncle Art & Joy Baurer, as both of their kids had grown up together-ish.   Then I continued on.     God did take me down a road that was a dead end, but He wanted me to follow where He led whether it made sense or not - obedience.  A little while later I was famished.  I had no idea how far away from home I was, but I knew it was no short distance as I had been gone a couple hours and still hadn't turned back toward the direction I had came.  Then finally the road turned and I was so exhausted.  My water was about out, and God didn't let me go up to any of the houses to fill it up (there were not too many houses at all in that area either).   Then I saw a green barn on a property, and I begged God to let me go to that house.  The more I asked the more He said no.   I did not understand until I got there - the house was abandoned.   Hmm... I suppose sometimes God says no to something that really frustrates us because He sees a reality that we can't see yet.    Anyways I was exhausted.  I finally came to a main road and found 2 houses across from each other.  I felt I heard God saying to go to the one on the right, though that was the one I had been asking Him if I could go to for a while.  As I walked onto the drive way I felt a burst of peace followed by a blow of attack.  Satan knew this is where God had asked me to go, but he wanted me to turn around.  I went up and knocked on the door.  No answer. I knocked again. I waited - no answer.  I heard the voice say wait.  But I said I know that there are people over at the other house, I can see them.  I will go over there.    I walk across the street and as soon as I set foot on the other driveway I lost peace.  So I stopped and asked God "WHY?"   He said to turn around and go back to the first house.  So I did.   I knocked and waited.  No answer.  I rang the door bell and waited.  No answer.  I went to another door and knocked and waited.  No answer.  So I left, and I had peace doing so.  As I was leaving I asked God why He had me go to this house rather than the other house, when there were no people there.  He said He was testing my obedience.  Further on down the road I came to another house that God allowed me to stop at.  By this point my water was long gone and I felt I had no energy left.    As I was walking up (I saw 3 cars in the driveway and the garage was open - I knew people were here) I heard God say that I will get water here.  So I knocked on the door and waited.  No answer.  I knocked again and waited even longer.  No answer.  I heard voices around the corner, but I didn't just want to walk up and talk to them while they were doing something.   But that's what God had me do.  So I walked around the corner of the house and there was a guy filling up the horse's watering pail.   I asked if I could have some of the water, pulling out my empty water bottle, and he said sure.  He filled me up and I left.   As I left I felt a burst of new energy.  

Throughout the walk, I had many itches on my arms and legs, but each time I felt them I asked God to take it away and He would.  I would divert my thoughts to something else and the next thing I knew that itch was gone.  Likewise with going to the bathroom.  God took that away too.  And also with my feet aching and hurting.  Sometimes that took a bit longer, as it was more of an immediate physical pain for me, but God took it and I kept going.  God has told me in the past, you may feel like collapsing and that your feet can't go any more, but I want you to keep going.

In all I walked almost exactly 15 miles (24.1 km) and retuned home to my grandma's just after 8pm.  It was well worth it and a ton of fun.    God is so Good to me.   He is soo Good period.  God is Good!