The Couch Calling

By Nancy Lindgren

Today marks a very special 7-year anniversary for me . . . I’ve coined it “the couch calling” because on an ordinary day I received an extraordinary call. I was sitting on my couch on a typical Saturday morning having time with Jesus just like I do on most mornings. I had nothing on my agenda. I was simply enjoying Him by praying, worshipping, dreaming, conversing, abiding and dwelling. When all of the sudden His presence became very real. You can’t fully understand the manifest presence of God until you experience it. That day I experienced it!

It truly was as if Jesus showed up and was sitting next to me and we were having a conversation. I pulled out my journal as He began speaking - not audibly - but very clearly into every fiber of my being. He was calling me to start a ministry called MORE. It was to be all about mentoring relationships, focused on prayer, so that people could come to know God as their Greatest Mentor.

As my Bible was open to Ephesians 3 and 4, verses 19-21 in chapter 3 jumped right out of the pages and straight into my heart: “And to know this love that suprasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

This abundant life that Jesus came to give us is His greatest desire for us. It speaks of freedom, joy and peace. His fullness is what we all desire but so few of us are experiencing it as we live our lives. It’s His power at work in us that can bring this about. Sometimes it’s another person showing up, walking alongside us and pointing us to Jesus that can give us a fuller understanding of what it looks like to live out the abundant life. That’s why godly, prayerful mentors are so vital!

My heart was being stirred. This was a calling on my life that was confirmed on a couch yet the seed had been planted years earlier. I just didn’t have a name for it until “the couch calling.” Even the term “mentor” hadn’t been used all that much until the last 10 years or so. I responded to the Lord by asking, “What does MORE stand for?” 

Once again, I looked down at my Bible in chapter 4 of Ephesians. The words one, unity, together and fullness were like flashing neon lights. Jesus' desire is that we would be one like He and the Father and the Spirit are one. By coming together in mentoring relationships, we can experience oneness and fullness. That’s why the enemy hates unity and togetherness because it represents everything that God longs for us to experience . . .MORE of HIM.

This is what MORE stands for:

M - Mentoring (a form of discipleship focused on relationships)

O - One-to-one (care about the one; unity and coming together is of utmost importance)

R - Relating authentically (relationships that are real and honest are key)

E - Encouragement and prayer (these go hand in hand, with prayer being the very foundation)

After asking God so many questions on that morning and writing it all down as fast as I could, I came to the end of our time together wondering, “Did I just make all of that up? Was that just in my own head, my own desires, my own thoughts?” I think God has a great sense of humor, and I believe He gives us ideas in how to pray specifically because He already knows the answer and wants to delight us with how personal and precise He is with those answers.

Knowing my husband and I were going to church that night, I specifically asked the Lord, “Could you have the Pastor say the words ‘the time is now’ three times to make sure I don’t miss it? This would confirm that You want me to start this ministry now and You want us to move to Colorado.” I had to throw in the Colorado piece because that’s a whole other God-story of being stirred to make a move but it hadn’t happened yet.

Once we arrived at church that night, I was literally leaning forward on the edge of my seat so I could hear every word. I remember feeling so expectant yet I nearly slipped right out of my chair and onto the floor when our pastor started his sermon with these words: “the time has come.” Even though those weren’t the exact words, they were close enough for me to get the message. I knew they were straight from the Lord when the same words were mentioned in the middle of the sermon and again at the end. The exact three times that I had prayed and was listening for! God amazes me!!

I went home that night and told the whole story to my husband. We prayed together and I trusted God to speak to my husband in such a personal way that he would know God was calling and leading us. Five months later we had our answer and 11 months later we were on our way to Colorado with a God-inspired ministry that had now launched!

In taking a step of faith to start the ministry, MORE Mentoring, I started a prayer team. That was the best decision I could have ever made. We started out with 70 of my close friends and family members then quickly grew to over 200. Today, we are seeing answers to prayers that were prayed all those years ago. I’m so grateful that when God calls, and we respond with, “Yes, Lord, here I am. I’m willing. Use me.” And He does.

That February day was like no other. I unexpectedly received a call from the Lord. For Moses it was a burning bush; for me it was a couch. I have been experiencing the “immeasurably more” ever since! What fun it has been to see the Lord bring others alongside me in this journey. We will never be the same. 

Nancy Lindgren is an author, speaker and the Founder of MORE Mentoring, whose mission is to inspire women to love and encourage others through prayer-focused mentoring. She and her husband, Mark, have midwestern roots, but now call Fairplay, Colorado home. They have four grown children and a well-worn welcome mat at their front door.