Guidance in Finding a New Home

I lived in Sydney in a 3 storey unit block, 3rd floor.

Prior to this place, I was living in a unit in a nearby suburb sharing with a girl from Church. I had the privilege of sharing with 3 flat mates in this unit over the course of 3 or 4 years. Many lessons, many laughs were lived in this home.

In this post I would like to share the guidance and interventions I had in getting the go ahead to move and where to move to.

I lived in the 1st unit of an Art deco block of 4. I was sharing with 'flatmate 3' at the time. I had wanted to move for a while but I wanted the time to end by God's determining, not mine. I very much felt I needed Gods OK to move on.

Some time later........

It was a Sunday morning and I was sitting cross legged on the couch, praying. I was seeking God for a word of encouragement for someone in the congregation. It was light outside.

During this time in prayer I got a picture. The picture was of the sun rising. The message came....'Its a new day; Its a new day'. I pondered on this for a time and I asked, 'God, who is this for? Who do you want me to say 'its a new day to?'  I was waiting for clarification as to who it was for, and after a short time I felt the Lord show me the word was for me.

After a long time of waiting, wanting my own place, the 'OK' was finally here. I later told my flat mate it was now time to move on, and how I knew it was time, and she was fine with the news.

So, my search started in prayer. My unit was in an area surrounded by other 2 storey art deco units, one block away from the train to the city, near the main road to the local shopping area, and the main road that leads you west. It felt very concrete!

My prayer was 'Lord, I want green and I want floor boards'. That was pretty much it to start - it wasn't very spiritual, just a desire on my heart. An addition to the prayer was, I wanted something off the ground floor and not too far from a train station. I was leading a home group at the time and wanted easy access for my friends. I searched online to find places with reasonable rent prices.

During my travels I saw a little place; it wasn't for me, but I had a feeling that my flat mate may like it. In my heart I knew I wanted to make sure she was OK first and had a home before I did. I went home and said 'flatmate 3' can I show you a place I think you may like. She didn't have a car and it was a short walk to the train station; She loved it. The deposit went on, it was hers!

I really felt I had clearance now. My flat mate was sorted and now it really was my turn. I decided to see if I could get some further direction using the street directory, so I opened it up to my current area and I asked the Lord which areas to look in. I felt directed to look between my suburb and one close by and I followed up by going to a few real estate offices in this area. As I walked into this one particular office an unusual butterfly feel or jump took place in my belly. I thought, 'that was strange, what was that feeling about?' and I told myself to take note. The agent gave me a list of places to look at and off I went to the first listing. I quite liked the street of this first place, and it was adjacent to my favourite palm lined street in the area; I was hopeful. As I drove down the street I particularly remember slowing to see his first place and with one glance said 'no way', accelerated and kept going. It was a big square red brick building, concrete all around it. It didn't look to fit the profile that I wanted.

A few days later I was at work having a browse on a real estate site where there was a particular place that really caught my eye. Two bed, floor boards, and a beautiful bright soft yellow kitchen, which was particularly appealing. I thought, wow, this looks great. I clicked on the link for the real estate office and amazingly it was the office I walked into those few days before where I had the butterfly feel. Further to it being that real estate office, the property was the first listing I had driven past a few days before, which I had presumptuously thought was a 'no way'.

The unit had recently come on the market and there had not been much interested. I was working part time (2 days a week, very limited income and wondering how I would cope), but I thought if this is the place it will be mine, and amazingly I got the place.

So to wrap this testimony up, I reflect to those weeks earlier when my heart and prayer was 'I want floor boards, I want green and off the ground floor'. I received everything I asked for. Unbeknown to me initially, this unit is on the edge of a huge tree filled park, a water canal winding through it with my kitchen window overlooking this big area. It had floor boards and I was on the 3rd floor. A 7 minute walk to the train station, which I required for my home group girls and further to this, I was in this place for 12 years and my rent stayed the same as it was the day I moved in.

This is all the grace of God. IT IS ALL HIM. It is so unusual to not have a mass of people vying for a unit. My income was low. My prayer of what I wanted was given. My rent is amazing. I love the Scripture Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will guide your steps. Even in my definite 'no' He ensured I came back to the place I now know He had for me. I can not deny this was a case of divine intervention and this is an encouragement to me rewriting this, to not limit God, to speak to Him, wait on Him, look for His guidance.

To end this note, a few weeks later after I had settled in to my new home, I remembered that I had also asked God for guidance using my road directory. So I went to the map page where the Lord said to look, between the suburbs of A... and C.... and as I looked I could see that my unit was directly in the centre of where these two names are written on the map.

So Specific. All of this direction was so helpful to me in moving and finding this place.

I also wish to add that these blessings from God are wonderful, His guidance comforting, and I am so thankful, but I also wish to declare that, # 1, my relationship is with Jesus because I need a Saviour. He is the blessing. He is the gift. If you are searching, I encourage you to look to Jesus. We were made to be in relationship with God through Jesus. We are separate to God when Jesus is not our Saviour and Lord. In the Cross of Jesus Christ our sin is removed as far as the east is from the west so that we can be brought into the blessings that are ours in Christ. Namely, Redemption to God the Father. You may not realise it, but you need this blessing for life eternal.