Have you ever wondered how it is that some of the circumstances of our day are really annoying? We plan our day to the best of our ability but somehow things don’t turn out the way we would like.
As I write this, I’m sitting in a queue at a bank – patiently waiting – for the past hour!! I couldn’t help getting a bit annoyed as I saw my day’s plans melting away every minute I sat longer.
What could possibly be the purpose of such a time wasting exercise I thought? Yes, I knew I had to accomplish a task in the bank, but why so much time wasting?
I think the older one gets, the more valuable time becomes and hence my concern at sitting idly in a queue.
As I watched the line edge forward, I began to sense the Holy Spirit speaking into the deep recess of my secret place.
“What about MY purpose?”, said the Lord. It was a short question but one which began to stir my thought processes. It sent me on a wonderful journey, taking my attention away from myself and my current circumstance.
Was it by chance that all the people around me were here at this exact time? Imagine all the circumstances that each one of the people around me might have gone through to be here right now. I could easily accept that it was coincidence – or was it a perfect plan of the Lord? – the Lord never works by coincidence.
Who of these people have a sound relationship with Him? I wondered. Who of these people have a ‘Sunday’ relationship with Him? Who of these people don’t know Him at all? How many of these people have someone who will pray for them to receive salvation or will pray for them to been drawn closer to Him?
I realised that being in this queue was no longer about me – poor old me!! It was about God’s purpose for those around me at this exact point in time – how amazing that the Lord would use me to intercede for those around me – what a privilege to be used by Him! Instead of me getting angry with my circumstance – I could turn it into the Lord’s Will.
As believers, we are like ‘agents’ of the Kingdom of God here on earth. We receive our ‘training’ directly from head office through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:19). This training is a lifelong process, changing our old sinful natures into the resurrected life of Christ – a renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2).
Jesus said in the book of John the we would do even greater things than He would do (John 14:12). Imagine how long it would have taken Jesus to share the Gospel into the whole world? Today, with more and more believers in the body of Christ, greater things are being done! Wherever believers go, the Kingdom of God goes, and so the world can be touched with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Every situation and place we find ourselves in, is a God appointed time for us to be used to further His Kingdom, allowing our training to affect those around us – by prayer, word, and action.
As I sat in the queue, I now found myself silently praying for those around me… “Lord open the eyes of their understanding, let them know the wonders of Your Great Kingdom. Let them become one with You, as You are one with the Father…”
“Next please… sir…. Next please…”
How perfect is God’s plan? Perhaps we need to be more accepting when the Lord makes an appointment for us to be somewhere at a certain time?
Thanks for reading… may the Lord bless you all.