In John chapter 4, there is the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus had conveniently sent all his apostles into town to get some food so that He could meet privately with this woman. He didn’t want to embarrass her by having all those other men around.

It is clear that He wanted not only to redeem her, but also the town that she lived in. This wonderful story illustrates a profound truth that we in the twenty-first century should take note of. God creates opportunities for each of us to encounter Him. He also creates opportunities to work through His own disciples to encounter others.

Having been a full time missionary for the last twelve years, it has become abundantly clear that God sets up His own appointments. There are times, like speaking engagements, where I know that the Lord desires to work through me to speak directly to individuals. I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to me after a presentation and shared how my talk was just for them – even as the same talk.

Each day, disciples of Jesus must establish a virtue of praying for those divine appointments that we know we are going to have. We should pray for those we have meetings with that day. Then, we should pray for those appointments that we had no idea were coming.

How do we know they are Divine Appointments?

For the disciple who lives with the Holy Spirit, every person they meet can become that appointment IF we let the Holy Spirit work through us.  Many of us allow the Spirit to use us on the fly and other times we don’t. If we let the Spirit use us in the moment, God is the one who meets with them.

So often, we tell God how we are going to serve Him. Maybe you are like me in that you make lists of things to get done each day. Ever had one of those days when you had so many disruptions that you finished the day having only accomplished two out of the ten listed? Before you beat yourself up because you feel like you failed, remember that you accomplished all fifteen on God’s list.

Yield the time and trust in His providence!

May I encourage you to turn your day over, at the beginning, to the Lord and see yourself as HIS tool of the moment? Keep your lists and work towards them, but also trust that, if God calls you into an unexpected meeting or task, He will give you the time to accomplish what you already know you must get done.

If God is calling, He is always providing.