EP 58 Learning How to Hear and Obey God's Voice - Veronica Scott

I remember hearing the voice of the Lord say, this is an encounter that will be life changing. Welcome to iRefresh, where we talk about the power of prayer in God's Word. We're so blessed to have my dear friend, Veronica Scott. Welcome. Thank you. Now, Veronica and I go way back with our sons, your youngest, my oldest, Christopher and Daniel, and they were schoolmates for a few years. Yes. You and I got to spend a lot of time together because we volunteered and we went on all the field trips. It was just amazing. I love about our connection too is there was something that I knew was different. It's like there's something in your inside, like a radar of there's a drawing. And the more I think we had an opportunity to get together and just, it was general conversations, but there was a God in you, that his presence, that was wanting me to know more. And so I believe when I began to have a dream that I wanted to participate and have other friends participate, that's when I really came to you in a bold way of saying, hey, this is what I feel called to do. And it had to do with the vision of iRefresh. Exactly. Before it was called iRefresh. Right. It was just my heart to pray. Yes. And see what God was going to do. Right. So then you called me and you said, my mom just passed a few months ago. And I've been in a really hard place. And as I've been seeking the Lord in this season, I really feel like he's called me to birth a vision that he gave you back at the days at ORU. And so you shared the vision with me. And I remember just connecting with that vision. Like, oh, that is exactly the, that's it. Without putting a word to it, that was it. And so you invited me then to come over and start praying with you. And I think at that time there was maybe three ladies that you were meeting with regularly. Yeah, there wasn't many. There were just a few of us. It was just about getting together. Small group, once a week. Yeah, and praying. And pray. Right. And that was the only thing we did is we just came together and prayed. And I did not know the other ladies, which was really fun because it was a total faith of this is what God told me to do. And I was just going to take that step and do it and see what came out of it. You know, the thing that I think is wonderful about when you feel that obedience to the Lord is what He does because the power of prayer is really what was our connector though. Absolutely. I mean, when you look back is the prayer that brought in a beautiful relationship Because not only have we prayed together for years, but the one thing I find is we've become walking partners over the last, I think it's a couple of years maybe? At least. And it's those experiences when we started walking together. I love to share with you things that I've been reading in the Word, and I'm pondering it, and I'm trying to figure it out. So when we would walk, I would feel like I got more revelation. You know, so, you know, I see the word of God in our lives as we would talk together and then we're sharing our prayer needs or what God has been doing. But, you know, even though you share about my mother, the thing that I think is incredible is your experiences with your heritage of prayer from your aunt. Can you tell us more about that? Well, and that was really our connection, because as you started sharing with me about the process that you just finished going through with your mother, you did not know, but I was going through that same process with my aunt, who was my dad's older sister, so she was more like a grandmother to me. And she, as long as I can remember, was in ministry, and it was always just who she was. And I remember being in high school, they had a house at the lake, and so we would go to the lake. And my friends would always say, what's up with your aunt? And I'd say, oh, she's just a Jesus fanatic because that was the only way I could explain her. And but she loved the Lord and she was spirit filled before I was and before I really fully understood what it was. But I think because I grew up around it, it never felt. I was never fearful of it. And I always was curious about it. I wanted it. And I wanted to know more about it. You and I started having those dialogues. As you would share with me about your mom, I would be like, oh my goodness. It is like you are explaining to me my life. and what I've been going through. And my aunt at that time was in the process of transferring to heaven. And so I really could relate to everything that you were going through. And you were ministering to me without even knowing it because you were helping me walk through that transition. Even though you were seeing something in me, which I don't fully always know, I'm inspired by the way that your tenacity to pray over people, even through all of that, is I remember you talk about you'd go to a grocery store and you'd have to stop. And what would happen with that? Well, I started that was when I first started understanding that I could hear God's voice. And, you know, it was something that she my aunt had taught me for years is, you know, you need to be listening to him. And so I would be like, OK, I think I am. And she would say, no, you know, he does not scream. He does not holler is a still small voice and you just need to keep your ears tuned in. So then I would hear the teaching from different pastors that would say it's like an old radio. You know, you turn the little knob and you bring the signal in. So I would think, OK, I'm going to do that. So I purpose and the grocery store just happened to be where the Lord used. That was the place that he used to teach me how to tune into his voice. And I would just be doing my own shopping in my own world. And I would pass somebody and I would hear him say that. And he would tell me what was going on with that person. And so I would be like, okay, do I go talk to them? And at that time, he would not release me to talk to them. He would say, I want you to pray for them and pray for this. But it was a season that I believe he was teaching me that this was not about me. This was about him training me and teaching me how to hear his voice. So it wasn't for me to go to that person and share with them. This is what the Lord says, because my understanding was that would bring the glory onto what my gift. And that wasn't what this was about. This was about taking a gift that he was perfecting in me and bringing it to the next level in him. So there were many, many times that he would show me people in the store and I would pray for them. But it was just he and I. I never talked to them. never heard their story, never told them that God had me praying for them because I really believed it was just a season that he had with me. So then when I met you and we started talking about, you know, praying and coming together, I was like, oh yes, definitely. I had been in a couple of other prayer groups before you and I met. And they had dissolved. And so I really was in that season of, Lord, what now? Because I thought prayer was awesome. And so I'm like, why did these dissolve? Well, you know, sometimes things, God shuts the door so he can open another one. But it's not always the open door right away. And so I had a season where I had a door that was shut and a time of waiting. So when you called and I started working, you know, with you in prayer, then it was like, oh, now I understand. And so through that time of ministry with you and the ladies was when the Lord started increasing my gift to where then I had an opportunity where I did get to talk to people. I did get to hear their story. And a lot of times I did get to tell them what God was showing me and what he was ministering to them about. You know, we've learned that. There's so many different ways we have learned about prayer. And that's what I am enjoying is I'm never... Not learning. I mean, there's something to take with it. I think even my boys have shown me I was learning something. When our boys were younger, just doing our normally daily tasks and going doing the errands, and they would be dragged along with them. I call them the God-entowners. Exactly. And they're the God-ent moments where you don't realize that just being a friendly face to someone is a good thing. when they were over the counter, whether it was, I was at Office Depot, or I was at Target, or I was at Subway. And you would see that there was a relationship that was built, so it allowed for them, while they're serving you, or taking care of a need, that you were literally praying and speaking over them. Right. I feel like we both have gone through that process and we continue to do it is you never know at what point someone on the fly will ask for something or they didn't say, like, would you please pray for me? Or if they do, it's that moment of like what you said, learning to obey in that moment. Right. And I think that's our key point of what the Lord is wanting us to know is. is praying at that moment. Of course, when I'm older, I'm like, I better pray now so I don't forget. Right, right, right. But I really believe that those moments are so rich when we reflect back and we hear that prompting, like, okay, they look like they have a need, and I literally can pray over a counter over someone before they had surgery the next day. Right. you know, and to hear those moments. Or I remember back in the day where the lady knew I was praying for her for her cancer, and my boys and I would come in, big crowd in that store that day, and all of a sudden she's like, yay, guess what, guess what? I'm like, okay, there's good news. Now all of a sudden now all the faces are looking at us. I'm like, I just want to go get our sandwiches and go. Uh-huh. And they're like, I'm cancer free. Right. And that was so amazing to know that those moments of just faithfulness, of being obedient on the fly, even when you're going through your own routines, that you can pray. And you know that God, sometimes we don't get those answers where we see them. Exactly. But still being faithful. Right. That's it. And I heard a minister say one time that he was having a conversation with the Lord about his the ministry that God had given him and just just enjoying. Look, look all that we've been able to do. And the Lord said to him, you are not my first choice. And he was like, whoa, what? You know, there goes that eagle. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And the Lord said, actually, you were my third. Wow. And what I learned from that teaching was that God will get the job done. It's up to you to obey. So if you would have just been in your own little world, which so many times I was, and not taken the time to pray for that lady, God would have still brought the healing. But it would have been through some other opportunity. But yet I would have missed out on one of the greatest blessings this life has to offer is to see God fulfill his promises and to just be part of the miracle. You know, and my only part is obedience. That's enough. God does the healing. He, you know, I don't do the healing. All I do is obey him, pray when he tells me to pray. And I went through a season early where he would get me up in the middle of the night just time and time again. And I would be like, OK, you know, that has to be God because I love my sleep. And I do not wake up. So, but it was just amazing because those nights, we would have the greatest conversations. Isn't it great when you look back over some of the things we go through is we can reflect back of the heritage. Oh yeah. You know, we are so fortunate. You know, I don't know if we, other people that have not had the blessing and the training that we don't realize. Sometimes I'm like, oh, I wish I would have paid more attention. I agree 100%. Because I'm like, oh, but you know what I have found, though, is what's been the beauty of our relationship and the women that we have come alongside in iRefresh is that friendship, it has continued what we gathered from your aunt and my mother of the power of prayer. Exactly. And that they were interceding or praying and they were warriors. Right. Right. When you have friends around you, you're doing the same thing. I'm learning from each of you. Exactly. And I do the same. I do the same. Like you said, when we go on a walk and you share with me something you read, I am so inspired. I go home and pull out my Bible. And I'm like, I want to read that same scripture because that's new. It's new manna. It's new revelation. It's the same word. I've read it a hundred times, but hearing it from someone else and I just go, okay, I'm intrigued. Yes. And so I want to go home and read it. Or I don't know something yet. I'm listening. I read this Veronica, but please tell me. Like, I don't know what to do with it. And then you will pull in information of what you've learned and what you know of the Word. And I'm like, it's so much fun to discover the freshness of God's Word. Exactly. Because then, you know, I think what's great, too, I believe the power of God's Word more is when we've been praying for other people. Oh, absolutely. It's like the Holy Spirit is so good. He says he's our teacher that he brings into remembrance. Thank you, Father. Yes. But he allows that to bring into remembrance his word. Right. And I may not have it memorized, but we get the phrases a lot of times. Exactly. And I've heard you because we will scribe when we're praying for people, right? Right. And all of a sudden, you know, I'll be scribing for you and you'll say a phrase. And so then I'm using my phone to look it up. Uh-huh. And it's great. You're like, oh, yeah. I'm like, I'm not sure where. Oh, Hebrews. But it's great to hear the phrases of God's word as you're praying into people's lives. Exactly. And I really learned from that even because I grew up in church. You know, I grew up as long as I can remember going to church. I did not think I was learning anything. I thought it was just a place I had to be. And, you know, I did all kinds of things, looking at my watch, planning my day, you You know, I would go through my mind was definitely not where it needed to be. But I find that in the time of prayer, there were things that will come to me. And the Lord started talking to me about it. And he would be like, you learned this on that pew when you didn't think you were hearing anything. And it so taught me about my own children to get them in church because they you may not think they're learning. Right. You may not think they're listening, but their spirit is listening. Their spirit is receiving. And I know in my own life, there's so much that comes to me now at this age that I was taught when I was in, you know, elementary school. Yeah, you're right, because I think about even the power of us. of being in the church. And we've had a season where there's been more of online things. Right. There's still about that fellowship and what God is trying to do to stir people up that we have to have also that fellowship. Absolutely. That's one thing that, you know, our team has been Zooming to stay in fellowship with each other and sharing and encouraging each other as we pray over each other the word. And that is so important because it changes the whole week. Just that one hour on Zoom once a week gives a whole new perspective on the whole week. It's literally a drink of water to a dry soul. And when you have that opportunity just to meet up with other believers like-minded, you are putting your faith in agreement with somebody else for a need. And then, of course, there's always the wonderful praise reports. We love those. We totally, that's like we're amazed at the goodness of God. Exactly. And it's irregular. It's not just once in a while. And so then, you know, you get off that call, you can be tired, you can be dragging. It's the end of the day. Do I really have time for this? But at the end of that hour, it is like life changing. I agree. You and I, like when we do it, when we all start texting other friends, and then we get a community of friends, right? Right. It's the importance of us sharing and testifying so we know how to pray into each other's lives. But just realizing the value, I am so much, I feel so much closer to God as a result of... talking with you or praying with you, and then when other friends join in with that. I agree completely. Because like we talked about, I mean, I did prayer by myself for years. But it wasn't until I started connecting with the iRefresh ladies through the iRefresh ministry that I started watching how God expanded that prayer time. And so then I started getting more from him. But it was because I was drawing from you and the other ladies in that community of what I like to call corporate prayer. You're right. Because that's where we ended up, you know, after spending a year of just praying together more, the Lord just felt like he gave us a download of how he was showing us by his word how we were to pray together. And when we talk about scribing— We're just writing down what the Lord is showing us as we pray together. And when we invite other people where we pray for them. You're exactly right. And so many times the ladies will come back with that piece of paper. Oh, yeah. That they put in their Bible. I still have it. Exactly. But the cool thing about that scribing sheet is that those ladies will testify. This is all that God has done since I was here last off of this piece of paper. Right. So it's truly, truly just exciting. Right. Yeah, you know, our takeaway from all these years is the growth that it brings within each one of us. Oh, yes. That we're better together in that corporate prayer. Exactly. That, you know, like you talk about, once we get together, you bring your supply. I've always loved how you say that, bring your supply. What is a supply? You spent time with the Lord before you come together. Yes, exactly. And that's the beauty of iRefresh because it's a community of women that basically we encourage each other to operate in your gifts. So when we come together to celebrate the gifts that God has within us, we come prepared. We spend our time before we get together praying and seeking the Lord. And so when we come together and all the anointings start coming together, it's fascinating to see what God's doing and so exciting. Yeah, because those gifts are always a little bit different. Right. But how they blend like a beautiful orchestration. Yes. The Lord is so good. And, you know, that is actually what the iRefresh vision is. You know, the relationships that we have gained because we have learned the value of community. in coming together, we fellowship, we have fun, we laugh, we have great memories. Yes. But the other thing is we're so much inspiring each other, and we don't judge and we don't compare, which is amazing. Only God could do that. That's right. Only God. Right. And the peace that we have— As a result of our time in fellowship and in prayer and in sharing what we've gathered from the word is nothing like it. And that's why we have a heart and our mission is we want to help you to have a group of women that you can come together, have that fellowship when you pray, learn how to pray God's word. Yes. Which we show on our website, a lot of ways to train ourselves. One of our women that originally were with us showed me like to be more disciplined to pray God's word. Absolutely. And that's the beautiful gift is when you realize that taking the word of God and incorporating it into a prayer just opens up heaven. And now you've got heaven listening to this prayer because they move on God's word. Yes, nothing better. What would you say is a good resource to learn how to pray God's Word? I actually love the iRefresh.net website. I paid her for that. Yes. Because on that website, there are scriptures and they are divided by topic. So if you don't know how to start praying God's word, the best thing to do is to go on the website, find the topic that relates to your situation. Find the scriptures. There's several. You can pick out which ones you like and put that into your prayer. And it's a great way to start. That is one thing we want you to be aware of, that we have an iRefresh community on Facebook. So we would love for you to join in. You're like, I would love to know what you do and what you're talking about. That sounds very inviting. Maybe I'm intimidated. I don't like to pray with other people or whatever. But you know what? There's something about it when you get together and you begin to pray and just talk. It's having a conversation with God and each other. It's fluid. It's fluid. It's just, it's very natural. And you will find something enriching in your life to make a change that will forever hold you strong and believing God for what he says and his word will come to pass. Thank you, Veronica, for being with me. And we're just getting to share about the power of prayer and God's word and the heritage you've had with your family. Thank you for having me.