God Orchestrates Our Lives

In early May of this year my daughter, Collins, and I attended a leadership conference. Collins and I share a common interest in seeking to learn from others, especially from proven leaders. At this conference, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, we were able to watch an interview with Condoleezza Rice.

One of the most compelling questions asked of her was how did she learn to handle, with fortitude and diligence, the “crisis call of 911”? Her answer was PRAYER. It was so encouraging to hear that her education in fortitude and diligence came, not from college but, from the “ACTIONS” of her grandmother.

She told of the unexpected illness of her uncle who was experiencing what was believed to be a sudden massive heart attack right in front of the family. What stood out to her as a young girl, and what was seared into her memory for a lifetime, was the immediate reaction of her grandmother. Her grandmother stopped and “PRAYED”. Yes, she prayed before she ever moved a muscle.

When Condoleezza Rice was faced with 911, she followed her grandmother’s example and acted upon the Scripture found in Psalms 50:15, “And call upon me in the day of trouble, I shall rescue you and you will honor me.”

This testimony of prayer and faith by one of the greatest leaders in our lifetime when responding to one of the most horrific tragedies in our lifetime was not only encouraging but inspiring. This moment sent chills up my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up.

You see, Condoleezza Rice is someone who loves golf, like Collins, and is also one of the first female members at Augusta National. Back in the fall Collins had the opportunity to meet Condoleezza while playing in a golf tournament. Condoleezza is someone who Collins very much identifies with on many levels–she is female, she loves golf, she is a women of prayer and doesn’t mind being bold in her faith. For her to be able to stand by my 19 year old daughter, who had experienced some extremely tough times in the past 2 years, was such a blessing. I spent a lot of time discussing the power of prayer with Collins and then God so graciously put a role model like Condoleezza Rice right there in front of us to validate all that I had been emphasizing to her. It brought tears to my eyes.

So many take aways from this short little story. Allow me to list them. God validates lessons through other people. God hears our prayers. God orchestrates our steps. God loves us. God’s timing is perfect. God is all knowing and all sufficient. And God protects.

I leave you with two Scriptures. Galatians 6:9, ” And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

And Jeremiah 29:11 and 12 which reminds us, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to 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.'”

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