VL - Issue 42 - January 2022

STEPPING FORWARD
ACCEPT GOD’S INVITATION
BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
IT WAS THE END OF A FANTASTIC WEEKEND at Callaway
Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. I was there for the Masters
Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament. Long gone were my days
of competing. Now I was in an exhibitor’s booth, sharing the mission
of Victorious Living.
God had shown up in amazing ways all weekend, including
introducing me to a man from Alabama who had heard me speak
when he was “residing” at Club Fed (Coleman Federal Prison).
We were standing next to each other at the food truck when he
recognized me. It was amazing to hear how God had impacted
his life through our outreaches.
I didn’t think God could top that, but He did.
I had just settled back in my chair on the beach to watch the
men’s jump event, when one of the top jumpers took a horrendous
crash. His screams echoed across Robin Lake.
I immediately started praying. I had never met this jumper,
but I knew his crash could end his career. My heart hurt for him.
As I prayed, I sensed the Lord saying, “Go lay your hands on him
and pray. I will heal his hip and knee.”
Anxiety welled up within me. What if this man was offended and
rejected me? What if the medical team wouldn’t let me get close?
What if I prayed and nothing happened? What if I looked like a fool?
I stayed in my seat, battling these questions. Moments passed,
and the athlete was removed from the water and taken to a restricted
area where a medical team could examine him. Still, like
the story of Jacob in Genesis 32, I continued to wrestle with God.
But He was winning, and my own hips were hurting!
Finally, I got up and approached the restricted area. “Walk
through the gate like you own the place, Kristi,” I told myself. If I
walked in with confidence and a look of authority, surely I’d get
through. No one questions a woman on a mission.
Wrong. I hadn’t made it three steps before the security guard
stopped me. “Ma’am, I need to see your credentials,” she said.
I fumbled with words, finally blurting out, “I’m the event clergy.”
What?! Where had that come from? But before I could explain, a
policeman walked up. Uh oh!
To my surprise, he said, “She’s who she says she is; let her
through so she can go pray for that skier.” I had spoken with this
man at other events over the years. He had a huge heart for the
Lord and for prison ministry. The Lord had sent him, a man with
true authority, to my aid.
I went to where the athlete lay and watched from behind the
medical team. I tried hard to muster up the courage to approach
him but stayed frozen in place. Then I saw his mom, and I de-
28 Issue 01 / 2022 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM