Sunday, January 16, 2011

Interruptions...or Divine Appointments?

This past Thursday morning, as I was having my Quiet Time with the Lord before leaving for work, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me during my prayer time to pray that I would be an encouragement to someone that day that needed encouraging. The last thing that I wrote in my journal that morning was asking God to bring someone across my path that day that I could be an encouragement to.

Shortly after arriving at work, I placed a call to a business colleague and God CLEARLY answered that prayer.  He had me call a person I had not spoken with in at least 3 months and this person, on this very day, was dealing with extreme loss, grief and pain and just needed a "shoulder to cry on" and a listening ear.   God had scheduled a "Divine Appointment" for me!

I had an opportunity to share the love of Jesus and the comfort of the Holy Spirit to this person experiencing so much hurt and pain in her life right now.  I was filled with compassion and my heart broke as she shared with me the circumstances that she was currently facing in her life.

Have you ever had a coincidence that was so special that you felt like God was in it?

I believe many times those "coincidences" are divine appointments -  "meetings" which are God led or inspired.

God is Sovereign. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. He knew that on this very day that this person would need a call from me...to listen to her, cry with her and most importantly, covenant to pray for her. He knew that I ALSO needed this appointment! The more that I shared with her about my faith...the more MY faith increased!

I couldn't help but wonder about how many appointments that God may have orchestrated for me in the past that I was "too busy" to see.  


Those divine appointments that I may have viewed as "interruptions" to my already busy schedule. 


Those situations that came across my path that I ignored because I didn't have time to "get involved".

As I thought about this encounter throughout the rest of the day, the Holy Spirit convicted me of the times that I have not allowed my daily life to be led by the Spirit.  I was challenged to slow down long enough to see, REALLY SEE, the people He has placed in my path; people that need to experience the love and compassion of Christ.  To take a second look at the "interruptions" in my schedule and see possible divine appointments orchestrated by my Heavenly Father.

I was reminded of the lyrics to a popular Christian song by Brandon Heath:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity.


Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones who are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see.


I pray that, as I go about my daily life, that I would be sensitive to the divine appointments that God, in His Sovereignty, has arranged for me. I know that if I am willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, GREAT things are possible!

Make me willing, Lord....


Give me YOUR eyes....
                                       YOUR heart....
                                                                 YOUR arms....    
                                                                                            Give me YOUR love, Lord! 

6 comments:

Love Being A Nonny said...

I know that I often *miss* opportunities God has for me. I have prayed for eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand!

petrii said...

Em,
I have been thinking about this very thing lately. What opportunities have I missed? I'm determined to make the most of every opportunity God gives me to share of Him, or be His hand extended to someone. I know I fail a lot, but this is something that is definitely on my heart to do better at.

I LOVE that Brandon Heath song.

Love you friend,
Dawn

Lori said...

Thank you so much for this. Maybe even you posting this was a divine appointment, because it's just what I needed to be reminded of!!

LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE...GOD'S GRACE said...

I know that I too have probably missed God-opportunities because my heart and mind were not "open" to Him at those times...allowing other things to interfere.

Thank you for reminding us that we do need to be more open...quiet....so we can hear.

~Beth

Lianna Knight said...

So glad you are back and blogging :) Your blog make-over is gorgeous and I can't help but see Faith when I look at your picture...she looks exactly like you :)

Love this post...God does put us in the right places for a purpose...whether it is to help us or to help others. So so true :)

Rebecca Jo said...

Beautifull said...

I think we'll be amazed when we get to Heaven & see the way things were orchestrated - that we just think of as "coincidences" sometimes!

So glad you are willing & OPEN to letting God use you... I'm sure your listening ear & kind words made a difference to your friend at that moment!