A few weeks ago our pastor stressed the importance of prayer and our church has placed a major emphasis on prayer as well. I am so excited over people being encouraged, taught, and led to grow their prayer life and intimacy with God. God does know my heart over the excitement of this and wanting to pour gas on this “prayer campaign!” so He is continually giving me things to write about as He moves in my own personal prayer life and my family’s.
Over the recent holiday, Martin Luther King Day, our daughter Collins was home for a long weekend. She is in her last semester at UGA and vigorously sending out resumes and praying about her future and so are we. I can only speak about my specific prayer life. I have sensed an anxious and nervous spirit in her. She had recently shared with me her frustration over how many people already have jobs lined up. All of her phone interviews have said, “Oh, you haven’t graduated? Well, call us back in May.”
I was even sitting with her and listened to one of her phone interviews…only to hear her get the same response she has been getting, “Call us in May!” As I sat there and listened to the interview and then listened to her say, “I just don’t understand…how I am getting this response over and over and others who have not graduated either already have jobs lined up…and they aren’t getting this response.” I told her to just keep plugging along and praying and to be sure to call them back in May. I also prayed for God to soothe her spirit and for her to be encouraged by others other than myself. Hahahahahaha….this is when the story gets good…God’s answer that day, MLK day, at lunch.
Collins and I went to lunch that day. She picked…Mediterranean Tea Room on Devine. WE walked in, sat down and I didn’t even see, but she did, our dear, dear friends, Kenny and Bebe. Collins jumped up to go over and say hello. I joined her after I put our stuff at the table. I just said hello…I get to see Bebe and Kenny more than Collins.
As we left to sit at our table across the room, Collins continued to talk about the Carters. In fact, we discussed how much we loved them and we even discussed how Mr. Carter wasn’t a big talker but a great listener. I looked at Collins and said, “When Mr. Carter does speak, I listen very carefully because it is usually well thought out and I have found it to always be WISE. Collins quickly added how wise Bebe was and I agreed. I feel we have been blessed as described in Proverbs 3:13. “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” We have been blessed by their wisdom and have enjoyed their friendship for years.
We ordered lunch and our conversation changed to the week ahead….and girl stuff. As we were finishing our lunch, Bebe and Kenny walked up to our table to say goodbye. As Bebe always does and is characterized by, she asked Collins about her plans…..and how she could pray for her. Collins expressed her frustration over the “job thing”. They listened with sympathetic ears and just before they walked away Kenny turned to Collins and simply said, “Don’t rush it….take your time!” and then left. I looked at Collins and said, “Do you hear it? Get it?” “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord,” (Proverbs 21:30). God has it all figured out.
She smiled. We laughed and teared up at the same time. Unbeknownst to them, we had just discussed how WISE they were….and how when Mr. Carter spoke we should listen. We were not expecting them to walk up and carry on another conversation….but as God would have it and orchestrate it…He brought people we admire, look up to, and consider wise (from the lives they live before us) and prompted them to ask questions of Collins out of their interest and concern.
They listened and God spoke through them. I hope you see it. You may not know the Carters…but they walk their talk. They aren’t perfect and would tell you they aren’t perfect and would laugh….but they are God-seekers and God-lovers and on countless occasions have lived this out before our very eyes. Their advice and motives can be trusted. God is good. He is faithful. He uses all of us daily to accomplish His will.
I encourage you today…to be a Christ-seeker, a Christ-follower….and be filled with Him. It is there that not only can you be helped, but you can be an answer to someone’s prayer.
Seek wisdom. Proverbs 24:14, “Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”