Divine Appointment
A DIVINE APPOINTMENT
By
JOYANN DWIRE
I pushed open the public restroom door and nearly knocked over the elderly woman who stood alone inside.
“I’m fine, honey. You didn't do no harm,” she replied to my concerned apologies.
The woman (who I’ll call Mindy) appeared to be in her 70s, and she stood in the restroom and talked to me as I used the facilities. It was a bit disconcerting at first, but there was something about her that drew me in, and at some point I realized this was a divine appointment.
Mindy spoke in detail of her family’s neglect and animosity, and how none of them wanted her around. But most of all she spoke about her Lord.
“My family's turned their backs on me. And you know why? Because I love my Savior.”
I didn’t know what to think of the story this lady told me. She didn’t fit the stereotype of a homeless woman or someone in need. Her graying hair was clean and neatly combed. Her clothes were modest but tidy. On the other hand, she would not be the first person to be abandoned by family members because of her faith. Was this the reason I came to this particular restaurant that day?
I recently read a statement in an otherwise excellent Christian book. The author said, in essence, that God isn't interested in our small daily decisions. God doesn't care where we eat lunch, what kind of car we drive, which way we go to work or what color socks we wear. I took issue with that. Sure, maybe God doesn't care what color socks we wear, but isn't He interested in our day-to-day activities?
My encounter with Mindy proves that He does. It was truly a divine appointment. However, the lesson that day was not so much about God’s ability to orchestrate such meetings, as it was a reminder that I need to always be attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit even in the little things.
Eating lunch at this particular restaurant had been a spur of the moment change of plans. Now here I was talking to Mindy and listening to her plight. She needed to get to an appointment for public housing at an apartment complex on the other side of town.
As she spoke a thought came to my mind, and at first I rejected it. Offer her a ride? She was a stranger, after all. But Mindy’s expressions of faith were genuine, and as I hesitated a few well-placed kicks from the Holy Spirit encouraged me to act.
Ten minutes later, this lovely lady was in my car, and we were on our way across town. Before she got out of the car, Mindy said a prayer for me and praised the Lord for the blessing He had given her through me. Little did she know what a blessing and encouragement she had been to me with her expressions of faith and hope in her Savior in the midst of troubling circumstances.
Just one variation in any of the decisions I made that day would have prevented me from making this divine appointment. Any change in traffic or how long I stayed in the grocery store or how long it took me to order and eat my meal, and our paths would not have crossed.
I didn't pray over those decisions, but all morning a praise song had been going through my head. Over and over it played. Not in an annoying way, as many of those stuck songs can be; rather it put me in a spirit of worship, and it was in this spirit that I made my decisions.
That was a welcome change for me. Quite often I find my thoughts wandering to things like how will I pay that bill? Will I have money to put gas in the car? Will I have more hours at work next week? Yes, it’s called worry, and I do a lot of it. In the midst of all these thoughts of doubt and lack of faith, I end up not listening to the One who can meet all my needs.
What a difference being in a state of worship had on my faith, on my mood, and on my ability to listen to the Holy Spirit. Paul encouraged us to pray without ceasing. Through my encounter with Mindy, I learned a broader sense of what that means. As Christians we’re rightly taught the importance of prayer, but often we neglect the art of listening. We need to listen in a spirit of worship and be willing to change our minds even about the little things.
Though I’m not always listening when I should be, I have been privileged to have other divine appointments. How many have I missed because I wasn’t listening? The writer to the Hebrews cautions us: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Hebrews 13:2. Sometimes I wonder if Mindy was one of those angels sent to encourage me, strengthen my faith and teach me a lesson about listening to God’s voice.
Does God care about all my “little” decisions? Will He care about my little decisions tomorrow? Or the next day? I don’t know. I just know that on the day I met Mindy, He did.Sign up for my Free Newsletter and receive more stories, articles and devotionals!
Copyright 2023 Joyoann Dwire All Rights Reserved
