For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.

~Philippians 2:13 NIV

Moving was stressful.

The Move

Excitement and anxiety battled in my heart as I watched the movers dismantle my home of thirty-eight years. Was I doing the right thing? So, I put on a smile, pushed away my fears, and started a conversation with the mover.“I’ve seen you at my church a few times. Are you and your wife attending there now?”

He stopped and wiped his brow. “No, we’re just visiting. We go to another church.”

“Oh, okay. I just assumed. Anyway, glad to have you visit anytime.”

We both laughed, and I promptly forgot the conversation.

A few months later, I found myself in a prayer circle with this same man. With joined hands, the group shared praises and prayer requests. 

“Thanks to this lady,” said the man with a nod to me, “my wife and I have found a church home here. Her comment that she thought we were already members made me think and pray to see if God wanted us at this church. God used her comment to point us to a church home. Thank you.”

The Reward

Astounded, I smiled and nodded, choking back tears. I had no idea God would use some small comment in such a way. Thankfully, He prodded me to that conversation months before, and I didn’t brush aside the still small voice. God was moving, and He allowed me to join Him. I wondered how many times I had missed God’s work by not looking for His hand. 

My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.

~John 5:17 NIV

God is always at work around us. I thought about Malchus, the man in the Bible with the severed ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. He served the high priest and was sent with the crowd to arrest Jesus. I don’t know what he thought about Jesus, but he was with an angry crowd. Peter drew a sword and separated his ear from his head.

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.

~John 18:10 NIV

But Jesus restored the ear, probably with Malchus’ blood all over His hand. Malchus felt the hand of God. Perhaps, someone else in the crowd also believed after seeing this miracle. The Bible doesn’t tell us how Malchus responded. He may have continued in his anger. Or, God may have used that act to reach his soul. God could have been moving in the servant’s life, and Peter missed it, as I missed God working in the mover’s life. 

Think of ways you can prepare to be God’s instrument. 

Lord, help me to be mindful of opportunities You place before me daily. Open my eyes to the Holy Spirit’s work through me. Help me to see souls as You do.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2024: Moving: Sharon Davis: All Rights Reserved