I feel as if I have many “stories” but the one I want to share today is about my story that led me to writing.
I worked in the dental field for eighteen years. I also worked overseas on the mission field in dentistry. I have always had a heart for missions and in fact I always wanted to be in the Peace Corps, but my life had different plans for me. This story that I am sharing will reveal the power of God and how His inner workings seem to always get us back on the blueprint design He has for us. I am a firm believer that everyone can have many stories in life and through each setting more of who God has made us to be is constantly being revealed. These experiences we travel through in life is what gives us the necessary tools to help us move forward in the kingdom of God. Our assignments we complete from God make us who we are. These parts of us not only strengthen us and give us more faith in who God is, but by releasing our stories to others, we are helping God in building up His body. This is the Great Commission that Jesus calls us to do. Each person’s individual testimony will be unique and different because God gives us according to what we need, all for His glory.
Getting back to my story…while I was on a church mission trip in the Dominican Republic many years ago, I was offered a position at my local church as a Global Mission and Local Outreach Director. I knew immediately that my time in dental would be rapidly coming to an end. I knew this was the Holy Spirit preparing my next venture and out of obedience to the Lord I would not think twice about jumping in. So… I took the job. Wow! It sure was a 180 turn from the dental field! I was now working for God in His setting within the church. There was so much to learn and in all the inner workings of “church life,” God was doing a “thing” in me. He was preparing my way for what would come next. He knew what I needed to continue to step forward in my destiny. The fact is, we all have destinies. The Bible says that we all have a book (Luke 10:20). It is up to us if we choose to step and walk into what is being put in front of us. All our paths look quite different. Scripture tells us that the body is made up of different parts and each part is needed (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
During my years working for the church, I began to hunger for more knowledge and began to search for schooling that would quench my thirst. The opportunity arose for the exact type of schooling I was looking for. Little did I know this schooling would take me to a deeper depth of knowledge of who God is that I could have ever thought. I have been in this schooling about seven years now and have completed my associate’s, bachelor’s and will be graduating this year with my master’s in biblical studies! Who would have ever thought that God would capture my heart and just keep going! I wanted to share this part of my writing journey because it gives great insight into my journey and to where I am as a writer today.
One night while I was home alone with the Lord, the Holy Spirit dropped in my spirit the words “Close the door.” I instinctively knew that it was time again for a change. I know the Holy Spirit well enough that when these things happen, I must obey because I am a firm believer in the written word of God and when God says move, I move. I am not going to tell you that change isn’t scary–it is! But new life is also fun and exciting. Not knowing what lies on the other side is somewhat exhilarating to me.
I had never written a letter of resignation. And it seemed ironic to try to explain that the reason for leaving this great job where I was working for the Lord—was because the Holy Spirit told me to “close the door.” Some of you may think I am crazy but as you continue to read, I think you will begin to see beyond my choice and get a glimpse how God was working and continues to work in my life.
Three months later to the day, a dear friend contacted me and said she had a dream– the Lord spoke to her saying I needed to come to Russia with her. Wow–the Lord never ceases to amaze me! I knew immediately within my spirit that I needed to go. I had been waiting three long months! Sometimes we need to learn to be still and know that He is God. This scripture has been a truth for me for years and I am not proud to say it, but it still is something I am trying to learn. The nearly yearlong planning soon began, and the Russia trip came quicker than expected. One month in Russia was a game changer in my life. I realized that God needed to take me away from my mundane life to instill in me the next part of my journey. My friends and I traveled throughout many areas of Russia and with our own eyes witnessed miracles that were provided through the Lord. Those miracles are for another time…another story I will tell.
I came home on a different level of elevation than what I left with. I was confident that God wanted to do something through me. The problem was that God became quiet. My apotheosis was not the same as what God had in mind. At that point I sort of fell in the dumps, became a bit lost, and my expectations of what I thought would happen left me deficient in the courage area of my life. Gradually, I came to learn that I lacked patience in the work God was doing in me. I was able to learn to be still and know who He is while listening and pondering on all that I had been through. I was so quick to want to release it to the world so that everyone could see the wonderous miracle-working Father! I was upset because I was jobless and left with too much so-called time on my hands.
So, what did I do? I continued my schooling. That was the one stable thing that was going for me and was the thing that fired my hope in what would come next. These lowly times don’t always have to be seen as depressing. These are the times where God is doing big things in our lives. I am a testimony of witness to the “valley days,” because I have gone through them. Being still and taking time to learn is a must to hear the voice of the Lord. My schooling also led me to another change, which was to begin attending the place of worship where I was going to school.
During this time of stillness, the Lord began nudging me through my dreams. Either I was not still enough to hear Him through the day, or the scripture was right on (Job 33:12-14, 15, 18)! I began dreaming of Bible verses and talking in my sleep. My husband would wake me up and tell me that I was quoting Bible scriptures. I knew that I must begin to write them down. I had no idea why. Nearly 14 weeks later, I wrote and then started the publishing process of my first book: Behold! God Is Speaking To Us, a fifty-two-week-Old Testament Devotional. After that I was on Fire again! I began to realize that God wants to release things through us all, but it is not on our timing, it is on His. I soon began volunteering and sharing my message to others. Before I knew it in 2020, COVID happened. We were all pretty much quarantined at home. Local eateries had closed their inside seating and we were forced to stay home. COVID had a positive outcome for me because I was able to stop all my daily activities and sit down and write. I was able to be still with no other agendas. Nothing was keeping me from the hunger within me. I soon began to receive downloads from the Lord and within in two weeks God did it again! I wrote my second book: Ancient Paths, Navigating the Ways of Old To Bless the Days of New. God really does have a path for us to follow, but it starts with getting to know Him on a deeper level. It starts with the hunger, the burden or feeling that you have to go deeper. 2 Peter 1:3-11 is a perfect scripture to understand what I am saying. As we get to know the Lord, He gives more. We were always meant to co-labor with Him through our relationship with Him. He has so much to offer. There is a whole other side we cannot see in this life that God is waiting to explore with us. We must be willing to step outside of fear while taking the first step into the unknown. His Word tells us that He has plans for us to prosper and that He will never leave or forsake us. We must believe that and have faith in what is to come. This is part of my testimony because if I had not chosen to leave the dental field, I may still be trying to find my God purpose in this life. I may have lost time. I thank God each day for all He has done and continues to do in and through me. I praise Him and have such feelings of excitement within myself for what is to come. Nothing is impossible with God on your side!
I am happy to share that I have published two books. I have two audibles along with a website. Years ago, I started blogging whatever God had placed on my heart and continue to this day. My blogs are on my website, michellegehrt.com. My books are in stores locally in Ohio and can be purchased online through major stores. I ventured off with a close friend and became members of a world-wide Christian writing group and have been able to sharpen my writing skills with the help of the diverse literary writers within the group. I am just finishing up with my master’s degree in Biblical Studies. This year (2023) the Lord has divinely awakened me to start my own local writing group. This again was another “Godwink” experience that I had. I received two confirmations to do this within ten minutes of each other. I immediately began creating my business plan to make this group come alive.
This is my writing journey. It may have been long, but I hope you are inspired by it to chase after the purpose God has for you. I pray this story ignites a flame to make a new transformation in 2023. I pray an impartation of activation will occur within your soul and that all fear will be released so that you can step deeper into your God-given destiny. I pray you may start a new endeavor or a more in-depth of what you are already doing. I pray your inner voice will emerge and that you will begin to move in bold confidence chasing after the prize that God has set before you. May the power of the Holy Spirit guide you into your next assignment.
God bless you
I am a witness to your many journies as you are mine. God sends us on so many journies in life that people take them for granted. It doesnt matter your age. Age is nothing but a blink of an eye in Gods time. I am just as excited to start my new journey in 2023. God had gifted me in so many ways with good, bad, hard , and easy times in my life and i am so greatly appreciated of everyone of them. Now at my age , I am beginning a whole new journey in life that God has directed me to do. A whole new path that I am nervous, worried, but very excited to begin. All my faith lies in God and I know he is putting me in this direction And will continue all my life to be in his direction . My inner spirit has turned me to this new direction with the guidance of my Lord in my heart , my soul, and my inner being. I am like a wounded bird that has been set free out to the wild. Time to fly on a brand new journey in the wilderness! And I thank you God for continuing and guiding me through my life. I am so very honored and greatful to be a part of your life. There are no words to explain the love that God has given me with my family, my loved ones, my friends, and people. You are such a bright light of guidance in my life Michelle as i hope i am in yours. I love you.