“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
Most mornings, I begin my day with prayer: “Lord, please help me see you list for my day, and not be blinded by my own to-do list.” One week I prayed that prayer. With summer vacation, our family schedule is a bit off. Many different and new responsibilities were weighing on my mind.
And, everyday, I needed to spend ninety minutes of my morning out on a soccer field while our youngest daughter attended soccer camp.
I bristled at both the heat of the sun relentlessly blazing upon my sunscreen slathered skin and as I recalled that list in my planner. Ninety minutes each day for five days! What I could accomplish with that time if I were home!
But as the week unfolded, I slowly began to realize God had heard my morning prayer, and being at the soccer field was His answer!
The third morning I met a mom who offered to share her UV tent and some conversation with me. As we sat sequestered in the shade of the tent, I enjoyed getting to know her and her two young children.
The fourth morning was forecasted to be the hottest of the week. My new friend arrived without her two younger children in tow. After our soccer players took to the field, we began to talk. This time our conversation took a surprising twist: she shared how her childhood experiences with church were not only negative, but extremely painful. I heard her frustration and could clearly see how it had been a heart-breaking experience.
After a pause and a prayer, I too opened up. I told her how years ago, my family and I had moved, had a baby, and how I was diagnosed with cancer. Our new church barely knew our family. But they cared for our three children, drove me to treatments, and fed my family home cooked meals, for five months! They were in it for the long haul. In short, they were the hands and feet of Jesus! They were acting just as God calls us,
I also told her how sincerely sorry I was she had never known that type of love from a church. We talked and I prayed God would open her heart to Him, not allow hurt from people to taint her view of Him.
Soccer camp taught me to stop forever looking inward. Just maybe, God could use me as a vessel to help someone else find Him. How glad I am He used what I thought was “wasted time” to show me I can encourage others and hopefully, point them to Him.
And, at the end of the day, what could be more satisfying than crossing off God’s to-do list!
Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes I get caught up in my life and my desires for the day. Please help me look to You for instructions of what I need to do today. When you author something I question, remind to look to You for what needs done. Please use me as Your hands and feet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.