After Easter, Pentecost, God sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. We can know personally the indwelling of Christ within us to comfort, to guide, to encourage, to chasten, and to provide answers to life’s biggest questions. Emanuel means God with us. Nothing we can do can earn us this gift. Unlike other religious practices, we do not reach out to God; He reached to us to draw us personally to Him. This is a Lenten truth.
MY PSALM 324 DWELL IN ME
Almighty Father, Precious Savior, Jesus Christ,
Comforter Holy Spirit,
Come dwell in me today.
I’m facing some challenges,
And can’t quite see where the trail leads
As the hymn says,
“In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.”[1]
I thought the day was planned:
Fabulous Fridays, we call it,
My husband and I.
We try to keep it special for us time
And often just hang out together,
Maybe do lunch or drive somewhere special.
Today, it’s an “I don’t know what?” day.
We have no special plans.
That’s when wasting time happens,
And I just hate wasting time.
So I’m wondering as I write this piece
Just where you’ll lead me.
Yesterday, by happenstance,
But perhaps another of Your Godincidences,
I drove a young mother home from the store.
She had a few packages, just enough to carry,
Just enough to feed her family of six, I suppose
And was struggling to arrange them for her long walk.
I asked her if she needed help.
She told me her car had broken down
And she had a long walk ahead.
I asked her where she lived, it was on my way
So I offered to drive her home and did.
Here’s my dilemma.
A church friend of mine did that for another woman
Last spring, and that got me involved
In a long, difficult relationship.
Lord, is this déjà vu all over again?
This woman is into meditation, not prayer.
Had separated from her husband for a time,
Was eager to tell me of financial difficulties
And struggles raising four children.
In the few brief moments we were together,
I spoke of Your sovereignty, Your direction for my life,
And invited her to church.
Here’s the challenge, Lord.
Should I attempt today to further the conversation?
Do you want me to witness to this woman again?
At the risk of getting too involved once more,
Is this You sending me on an evangelistic mission?
Tell me what to do, Lord.
I know without a doubt
that You use me in chance encounters.
Is this another of my mission field assignments?
I’m asking You in prayer, because I’m led to seek You.
I don’t know her name. You do.
I will recognize her if I see her again.
Will You cross our paths again?
Perhaps she will bring her family to church.
If so, that will be Your doing
And I long to welcome her in Your Name.
Direct my path, today, Lord
Toward this woman or perhaps someone else,
So I may share Your message with others.
That’s today’s challenge
And I give this day to You
And will say, at the end of it,
This was God’s plan all along.
Thank You for this new day!
May hubby and I honor You in it.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
[1] William W.Walford. www. Hymnary.org
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