DIRECTION
About the same time I spotted an advert for the Alpha course on the back of a bus. A couple of days later I saw the same advert. Then, the next Sunday, Valerie came home from church and said, “They’re starting an Alpha course. Do you mind if I go?” I started to wonder what it was all about and decided I would go with her.’ Graham’s police training and experience over many years concerned gathering and processing evidence in order to come to a satisfactory conclusion. Although he had solved many complicated crimes, he struggled to understand the things he heard at the Alpha course. But despite his doubts, Graham persisted with his daily Bible readings and weekly Alpha studies. He tried to pray but couldn’t
‘From the depths of my heart I prayed aloud for the first time and said, “My heart is open, Lord. Please come to me”.’
find the words. His struggle increased when the study group came to the teaching about the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Graham found it quite beyond his comprehension. ‘A heavy cloud descended on me and I felt dreadful. My teachers recognised this, and with great understanding and love prayed for me. ‘These things weighed heavily upon me as I went home that evening. I had a restless night and felt awful the next morning. It was if God was trying to take me forward and the enemy was dragging me back. A battle was raging within me.’ For the rest of the day, Graham and Valerie prayed, read the Bible and discussed his struggles. He went to bed that night still distraught and confused. ‘Some time during the early
hours of that night I suddenly woke from a light sleep. Almost immediately, I heard two words spoken by a deep voice, which seemed to reverberate around the room. “Seek, knock”, the voice said twice. ‘I got out of bed and went into the dining-room where I felt a need to pick up the Bible. It fell open at Luke 11, where one of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. My eyes were immediately drawn to the verses: “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened”. ‘I realised then what the Lord was saying. I felt very humbled and dropped forward onto the table, quite overwhelmed that God was speaking to me. From the depths of my heart I prayed aloud for the first time and said, “My heart is open, Lord. Please come to me.” I gave myself to him and asked him to fill me with the Holy Spirit. ‘I prayed long and hard and, at 6am, went back to bed elated, joyful and feeling warm inside. The struggle was over. I slept soundly the rest of the morning and woke up with a peace and warmth filling my whole being. It was so wonderful, I find it hard to describe. ‘I told Val how joyful and peaceful I felt. We hugged and praised the Lord as we cried with joy.’ Graham immediately gave witness to his faith by calling the Alpha group leader, who rejoiced with him. The next week at the course meeting, Graham told everybody what had happened to him. Graham and Valerie continue to attend Longton Elim Church, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday mornings and evenings as well as twice during the week. ‘I just can’t get enough of God’s Word,’ smiles Graham. ‘I’m loving it and it is making such a difference to my life. I’ve found God and I’ll never let him go.’
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