As we finished our time together, I said to Stan, “What are you going to do the rest of the day?”
Stan pulled out his cellphone, opened the calendar, and showed it to me.
“There’s nothing on it,” I said with a bit of surprise.
“That’s right,” Stan responded. “The whole rest of the day is open to whatever appointments God has for me. I give Him the calendar to fill as He wants with His divine appointments.”
“Isn’t that kind of limiting?” I asked. “Just sitting around waiting for some appointment God may or may not have for you?”
“You miss the point, my friend,” Stan replied. “I am not just sitting around doing nothing.”
“No,” he continued, “I go about my day, but I am open to being interrupted by God in what I am doing so that He can do what He wants through me.”
“If I have my calendar full with things I think are important for me to be doing, I am apt to miss the opportunities God has for me to serve Him by serving others in His name and for His purposes.”
“But what about commitments you may have?” I asked.
“Oh, there are lots of commitments,” Stan replied, “but I have to be ready at any moment to set them aside if God has something else for me to be focusing on.”
“It is up to God, not me,” Stan concluded, “to set the place of my service. While He provides the opportunity to serve, it is up to me to choose. And I always want to choose the place of service He has for me.”
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For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you allow me to be used by you for your purposes. I confess all of the times I choose to do what I want to do apart from what you have for me. Please forgive me of all of those instances. And please lead me in being open to every opportunity you present for me to serve whoever you bring before me. Help me in setting aside what I want to do in solemn preference for doing what and being who you intend. Please, Lord, lead and help me to follow in all of the appointments you have for me. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 