Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Saviour, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.
Cecil F. Alexander
I have been living in a retirement community for the
past eighteen months. During this time, I have become acutely aware that there
are people whose needs are not always met. I would rationalize and think, What
is that to me? However, I began taking several individuals' needs to the Lord in
prayer.
Over the past several months, I have often sat in the
lobby after meals. One night, I looked to see if I could be of help to either a
resident or staff member. During this time, there was a distraught younger woman
at the desk, expressing a concern about a family member. I recognized the woman.
However, being very tired, I decided to go to my room. But the Holy Spirit had
other plans for me.
Before I could leave the lobby to go to my room, my
feet took me to the resident's room. There was the distraught woman, the
resident's daughter. She greeted me at the door and almost pushed me into the
room, saying, "Why don't you come in and visit awhile?" So I did. The daughter
left for the evening. The resident was in her bed. I sat down and talked with
her. She was anxious because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep. I
recited this Scripture to her:
Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
I explained that we are not to be anxious, but by
prayer, we can experience a peace that we cannot understand. I told her how
God's peace has come over me when I have been in the same situation. I reassured
her that God has asked us to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for
you." (1 Peter 5:7 NIV) Then I began singing some of the old gospel hymns, to
which she would join in, as she remembered them. She said she thought that God
had sent me to her room. He sure did! Before I left, I asked her if I could pray
for her, and she agreed.
I was glad that God gave me this opportunity and that
I acted upon it. I praise Him for bringing to remembrance the Scriptures and
words to the hymns that I sang. I am thankful that I could sing them. My voice
was crackly and weak, but God used this encounter for His glory.
There are times when we sense the guidance of the Holy
Spirit asking us to follow His leading. Are we willing to follow His lead?
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to recognize Your leading
and to be willing to follow through and do Your will. Help us to overcome our
timidity, and give us opportunities today to be Your helpers in assisting others
in their time of need. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Parise Arakelian
parakelian@roadrunner.com
Arcadia, California, USA
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
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