Children dawdle and dilly-dally. They become distracted.
Mom sends them on a mission: “Go wash your hands for dinner, Jacob.” But before Jacob reaches the bathroom, he notices a cartoon on television and slides onto the sofa to watch. Later, Mom will call again to remind Jacob about his main mission.
An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go,” giving explicit instructions. Philip obeyed. He started out, and on his way he saw a man in a chariot reading from the book of Isaiah. The Spirit prompted Philip to approach the eunuch and ask, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Because Philip heard and obeyed divine guidance, the Ethiopian believed and was baptized—after Philip explained the meaning of Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ.
When I am on my way to obey, God may open other opportunities to minister.
I like to wander through department stores, seeing what is new and what is on sale (preferably 75% off). I can’t count the times I’ve started a conversation with a fellow shopper and been led to go deeper. Often, they will share a personal dilemma. I sympathize and ask if they have a church family. I let them know I’ll pray for them as the Lord reminds me. I urge them to pray about their situation too.
We are never off the clock from being available for God’s guidance. Someone may be in our path needing to know God cares. If we feel the nudge of the Spirit to visit someone, take a meal to a widow, or encourage a young person, we should do it. We never know if our simple act will lead to a deeper ministry opportunity as we keep our heart sensitive to the Spirit.
We may also ask God for divine appointments, asking for guidance to someone who needs encouragement or prayer. When I leave for a vacation or short trip, I ask God to make me a blessing to someone while I’m there. Hurting and hungry people are all around us. Many do not understand the message of the Scriptures as we do. Showing we care may give us the credibility to speak kindly of our Lord.
Don’t dawdle or dilly-dally. Be sensitive to God’s Spirit as you are on your way anywhere.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Phyllis Qualls Freeman is a freelance writer with twenty years’ experience and more than four hundred published devotions, magazine articles, and newspaper human-interest pieces. She lives near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers, and several anthologies. She writes devotions on assignment and enjoys mentoring new writers.