Inside Story

Hearing God While Cooking Porridge

Miriam was a 41-year-old mother in Zambia. She didn’t feel well. Her head hurt. Her body ached. She was very unhappy.

With a sad heart, Miriam went to the first night of a week-long Bible program in the city of Livingstone. At the meeting, Miriam met a Seventh-day Adventist woman named Majorie. Miriam and Majorie became friends. Miriam told Majorie all about the pain she suffered. Miriam asked Majorie to pray for her.

Then something strange happened. The next day, Miriam was stirring a pot of corn porridge on a fire outside her house at 11 a.m. Lots of Zambians cooked outdoors because of a power shortage in the country. The shortage left many homes without electricity. As Miriam stirred, she heard a voice say, “Go read the Bible right now. Leave your pot and read the Bible.”

Miriam didn’t know what to read in the Bible. She went inside the house, opened her Bible, and read the first chapter she saw. The words touched her heart. She believed that God ­talked to her personally in the verses. Miriam closed the Bible and finished cooking the porridge outside. Then she went inside and read another chapter. She believed God was telling her, “Believe that I will always love you. Live how I want you to live.”

Joy filled Miriam’s heart. Her body aches went away. Her head pain was gone. She knelt down and prayed, “Forgive me, God.”

Miriam went back to the Bible meeting that evening. She told Majorie what happened. Tears filled Majorie’s eyes when she learned that Miriam heard the voice telling her to read the Bible at 11 a.m. At that exact time, Majorie prayed for Miriam.

Majorie told Miriam, “Spend time reading the Bible every day. Remember to pray all the time. The Bible and prayer are God’s answer for everything.”

Many months later, Miriam continues to read the Bible and to pray every day. She no longer feels sick. God replaced the sorrow in her heart with sunshine and joy. Now Miriam wants to live for God. Miriam says, “The Bible fills my heart with hope. God works through the Bible. If the devil tries to confuse my mind, I pray and ask God to keep His Bible promises to me.”

This mission story shows part of the “I Will Go” plan for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which says: “Jesus met with people. He showed them love. He helped them. He took care of their needs. He won their trust. Then He invited people to follow Him.” This plan teaches us to show interest in people, lead them to Jesus, and invite them to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Read more at IWillGo.org. Watch a short YouTube show about Miriam at: https://bit.ly/Miriam-IS .

Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at https://AdventistMission.org .