Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry- my new adventure for the next year that starts in August of 2019! Across the country. In Redding, California. Booyaaaah!
As some of you know, I am embarking on an incredible journey soon that the Father has invited me on! I wanted to speak more about why I’m going to Bethel School of Ministry specifically.
In August of last year my mom and I visited the Santa Cruz area of Northern California, and it was a dream! I fell in love with the Golden state and felt this strong pull to go back. We went onto the campus of UCSC and it was GORGEOUS and I thought, “I would love to go to school out here”. It was a dream I did not for see happening, yet I dreamed it. (The Father loves to give us things that we want! So we shouldn’t be afraid to dream!) Like a good dad loves to surprise his daughter with the perfect gift on her Christmas list that she asked for, my Father loves to give me things that I desire that he knows are the best for me.
In the early fall, I got home from the trip and a few weeks later told my friends that I was moving to California. I presented it as a joke, but I really meant it. It’s as if I knew I would be moving there at some point, I just had no idea the timing or details of that. So I kept saying it over and over and California kept popping up.
One day in January I was telling a friend about how I felt like I wanted to go on an adventure in fall of 2019 and that I just love California. He asked if I had considered applying to Bethel School of Ministry, and I hadn’t! I had heard of it before, had a friend who attended a year there and had listened to a lot of music and teaching from Bethel Church in Redding, but hadn’t even thought of Bethel School for myself. I opened the application, read through information about the school, and the more and more I worked on the application, the more I felt like this is for me.
I finished the application and the day before my skype interview had a conversation with the Father and felt like he was saying that if I got in, that would be his “yes” that this is what he is calling me to, and if I did not get in, that was his “no” to this and yes to something else. I told him that if I got in, I would go! I did my skype interview- which went insanely well!- and got in the same day as my interview when I was told it would probably take a week or a few weeks to hear back. I was overjoyed when I saw the email, rejoiced in the Lord’s invitation, and knew I would go!
I went through a short period of doubt in this decision. A handful of people close to me were very opposed to this decision to go. Some of my friends on the other hand were pumped for me and celebrated me. There were so many emotions, questions, fears, and doubts that first week after I got in. I read articles and watched videos of people who are very against Bethel, and felt the Holy Spirit assure me that this is what he has for me and that it will be good. He even showed me that I will be able to pray for people and see miracles happen as I walk with him. I began learning the voice of the Holy Spirit to me a lot more, and how he sometimes gives me feelings, jolts and chills to tell me something as well as thoughts that pop into my head from Him, things that catch my attention, etc. I am able to discern often whether something is from Him or not, and which outside voices I should and shouldn’t listen to.
As I spoke with pastors, mentors, family, and peers about this decision, I came to the conclusion that the voice of Holy Spirit has to be what I listen to first and foremost. I sought wise counsel and adults I trust were very on board with this decision, even though a few were very opposed. I learned that you will get a hundred different answers to something if you ask a hundred people, but the Holy Spirit is worth listening to the most. I listened to the Spirit throughout all of that, and he showed me what was truth he was speaking and what was not his heart for me. I became so confident in hearing from the Father, and feeling his peace and excitement over my choice to follow his leading, even if not everyone was on board.
Ever since I said “yes” to Bethel, and watched the Lord provide my deposit of $500 for the school, I have been learning so much, and hearing and seeing so much more of what he is saying! I am so thankful that he is patient with me, and is leading me into so much more joy and freedom!!
In the next post I will talk more about my journey with the Holy Spirit.
Feel free to ask me any questions or share any comments you have!
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Lucy Smoot
the journey into joy 