“Everything happens for a reason. Nothing occurs by chance, it’s all part of God’s divine plan. Learn to trust it and go where He leads you.” Pinterest
God amazes me as He makes His presence known when you least expect it. Nothing is out of the reach of God’s domain. Even while being pampered, God is able to turn an indulgence into an opportunity for ministry. I celebrated Mother’s Day a month early with a hair massage while on a Caribbean cruise. Little did I know a bit of heaven was about to invade earth for my hairdresser’s heart. It was obvious God was up to something, that He had paved the way and prepared her heart to receive. As she began to massage the Moroccan oil into my hair, she shared about her recent second divorce which caused her to leave her business in South Africa and join the ship’s crew. This was her attempt to try to sort things out and process the raw hurt lodged within her heart. I thought to myself, I have got to pray for her! So I gave her the football time out hand signal and asked if I could pray for her. Fortunately, God had set the scene and we were the only ones in the salon. I placed my hand upon hers and offered up my prayer. Afterward, she resumed massaging my head. Throughout the rest of the process, half of me enjoyed the relaxation while the other half prayed silently, asking God for a prophetic word to birth life. Never doubt God’s faithfulness to answer that kind of prayer, for He’s a kind and compassionate God. At the conclusion of the treatment, which was way too soon, I told her she is braver than she thinks. She confessed how she had struggled the past few days, feeling lost and confused and how she couldn’t believe the timing of our encounter. By now gentle tears were rolling down her cheeks. I told her how God loved her, so much so, He sent me to show His love for her. I talked about how my sin and shame in the past have kept me away from God. Then I encouraged her to not run away from God, but to run into His loving arms. We hugged a few times and I returned to my cabin and wrote her a note with some encouraging Scripture verses. I’m reminded of Proverbs 16:9: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” I walked into the ship’s salon that day with the sole purpose of receiving pleasure from being pampered. And I left the salon with the joy of being God’s vessel through which He was able to minister restoration to another’s heart.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia
Relevant Reflection: 1. Describe a time when you least expected a divine appointment. How did heaven invade earth?
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