Stan was late. Very unusual for him. As I sat there waiting, I asked the Lord to watch over him. Just then, there was a text on my phone, “Be there shortly,” it read.
A few minutes later, Stan walked in. He apologized for being late and said, “God had something to add to my calendar this morning, something He knew needed to take first place on my agenda.”
“What happened? I asked.
“Just as I was turning onto Main Street off of Third,” Stan said, “I noticed a woman sitting near the bus stop. She appeared to be crying and looked very distressed.”
Continuing, he added, “My first thought was that she looked like she needed help. My second thought was that I was already running late and I wouldn’t make it to see you on time if I stopped. Just then the Holy Spirit, in essence, yelled in my ear, ‘Stop!’”
“And you listened to that voice,” I replied. “Good for you!”
“Yes, I listened and stopped,” Stan replied. “I suppose it was good for me, but I can say for certain that it was a whole lot better for her.”
Continuing, he said, “The woman needed immediate help. She was in distress. I called 911. While we were waiting for that help to come, the woman said something to the effect that she had been there for some time and no one had stopped to help. And she wanted to know why I did.”
“I briefly explained that I am a Christian and that the voice of God told me to stop to help her. We talked some more, and out of our brief conversation that couldn’t have been more than ten minutes, she accepted the free gift of God’s salvation through the finished work of Christ on the cross.”
“Wow!” I responded. “God interrupted your day so that He could change the eternal destination of that woman. Again I say, ‘Good for you’.”
“And,” Stan replied, “again I say, ‘Good for her’. She was on God’s calendar for today. I just got to be part of what He wanted by responding to what He had put on my calendar.”
“God’s calendar is always a lot more important than mine,” Stan concluded.
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Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to every one who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. 1 Peter 3:15.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the people you bring into my life for your purposes. I confess that too often I put my agenda ahead of yours. Please forgive me. And please open me to always see what and who is on your agenda that you want to put on mine. And please help me to not only see, but to respond in obedience to whatever you have for me to be and to do. Help me in responding to each instance only as you intend for me. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 