How God guides our hearts
- by Michael Reynolds
Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3
It was the perfect day. I mean perfect. It was the Saturday before Easter, and we woke up to a crisp, cloudless spring morning that had "get outside and do something" written all over it. Of course yard work was a possibility, or perhaps a garage clean-out, or any number of things on the ever-present "honey-do" list.
Not a chance.
You see, I was going to the car show. Not just any car show, mind you; this was the annual Heritage Village antique car show. Set among the trees and streets of a restored historical village, the old cars were uniquely displayed in a way that made you feel as if you had taken a step back into a quieter, simpler time. It was Mayberry, Norman Rockwell, and Mom's apple pie all rolled into one. And there were cars: gorgeously and meticulously restored antique cars. It was as good as it gets. Ferris Beuller should have such a day off. It was perfect.
Well, almost.
Our church occasionally conducts a Saturday morning "evangelism blitz" where we meet at church and then fan out into the surrounding areas and invite our neighbors to services. The day before Easter would be a great time to invite the "holly-lily people" (Christmas-Easter only attendees) to church and, if the opportunity presented itself, to share Christ with them. What a superb idea!
There was only one problem: Car Show: 10 a.m.; Evangelism Blitz: 10 a.m.
Perfect day? You bet. Perfect peace? I don't think so.
If you're like me, you run into this kind of thing all the time: two extremely good events in conflicting time frames. We're all busy, and we often have to sort through these calendar conflicts.
I Corinthians 14:33 tells us that "God is not a God of disorder, but of peace." (NIV) I was not having much peace on this one.
I have a passion for evangelism, and I enjoy a sense of fulfillment when I share my faith with others. Our family's life verse is Matthew 6:33 where Jesus tells us, "But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." (NASV) I was also reminded of that section in Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, (p.31) where he says: "Knowing your purpose simplifies your life. It defines what you do and what you don't do."
I got in the car and began driving and praying (eyes open) as I headed toward church to pursue the obvious godly choice. However, I must confess I felt somewhat disappointed that I would be missing the event that I had looked so forward to attending. It wasn't that I was doing a "Jonah sulk" (Jonah 4), but I was just telling God that it sure would be nice if I could do both. Yes, it sure would be nice if I could ... hey, wait a minute!
I have to tell you, I'm not one of those guys who hears from God in any kind of direct way. Sure, I get promptings and impressions and I read Scripture, but I just don't seem to have those "God told me" moments that I hear others talk about. Now with my wife Carolyn, it's a totally different story. I think she meets God at Starbucks in the morning and they discuss his plans for her day over a venti latté. While that girl is connected, my reception seems to come and go like a cell phone in the mountains.
In any event, as I was driving toward church, I got the idea that maybe I could do both. Go see the old cars, and while I'm there, pass out invitations to the next day's Easter services. I had picked up a handful of the special Easter invitations at church earlier that week. A plan bas born.
Conflict resolved. Peace restored.
I know it's a cliché, but God really is good all the time. In Psalm 37 David tells us: "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
(Psalm 37:4 NIV)
As I passed out invitations to the Easter services, no one was in the least bit unpleasant, and many thanked me. If that wasn't blessing enough, I was able to spend some time with one of the participants, the owner of a gorgeous, blue 1931 Ford Model A coupe. We talked cars for a while and then "shifted" to spiritual subjects. I had the awesome privilege of leading that kind-hearted soul to Jesus!
Is there a lesson to all this? There is for me, and perhaps you can relate. We all live lives where conflicting interests are an ever-present challenge. But God has promised us: "You (God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)
If perfect peace is the promise, what are we called to do? It seems to me that we need to:
1. Pray. Just tell God what's on your heart. He cares. (I Peter 5:7)
2. Purpose. Remember what you're here for. (Ephesians 2:10)
3. Prepare. Is sharing your faith a gift or passion? Get trained.
4. Participate. Sometimes we just need to show up. Get in the game. Is it evangelism? Show up. Is it service? Show up. Is it Life Purpose Coaching®? Show up.
5. Peace. Enjoy it.
It was a glorious Saturday morning, the day before Easter. What was it going to be? Cars or Christ? How about cars and Christ?
It was the perfect day.
