The Miracle Delay

It's hard to understand why sometimes when you ask the Lord for guidance and follow it, things still don't pan out as you hoped. What happened to me might give you the faith to trust next time that happens.

Last week I went to the dentist, I have to every two weeks to adjust my braces. Before heading there I had to hear from the Lord about something else, and He also punched through with this:

(Excerpts) The enemy walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. It is important that you double-check these things with Me and be vigilant and careful. ...fight the enemy back with all the weaponry you have. Do My will, do your part, and I will protect you ...Be proactive in spirit and in the steps you take physically. Do what you can and I’ll do what you can’t do. But also be sober and vigilant, careful about accidents and other breaches, and I’ll do the rest. I have all the power at your disposal, and if you use it the enemies attempt will be annihilated – they’ll be no match.

Since I was going by bus and wasn't sure what would work out with the ride home, I asked the Lord to confirm if I should still go. He said He would protect me if I followed His counsel and made an extra effort to ask Him before doing anything 'routine'. I walked out the gate with an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I called on the keys and Vigilance and was on my way.

The appointment went well with the dentist, but as I walked down the stairs from his office I remembered the Lord's counsel. I usually cross the road, call home (in case there is a ride), and then get the bus or van home at the nearby bus stop. I asked the Lord if I should do that or if He preferred that I call from a mall down the other direction. I felt clearly that that was best, so off I went.

It turned out that that entire mall had not one public phone. I walked a little further to the next mall (always in the direction opposite to the bus stop -ugh) and finally found one. I consoled myself with the fact that the Lord probably wanted me to be there so I could wait comfortably for a ride that surely would take me home.

To my dismay, upon calling home I was told that there was no one out yet and that I should probably just head home. I didn't get why I was shown to come the opposite way, but I picked up my pace and walked the 2 blocks back and then crossed the street. As soon as I arrived at the bus stop, a van pulled up and, after confirming it with the Lord, I jumped in.

This is where I usually end up. Following the check, and then not knowing why it doesn't make sense, followed by me wrapping it up in a faith bundle. This time, on the other hand, I think the Lord wanted me to clearly see why He did it. I'll continue:

I had some Word time in the van and began to dose off about 10 minutes from home, when suddenly I felt wide awake. I then heard gasps from the driver and other passengers. There, off the road and with it's nose in the tall grass, I saw another van. I heard sirens - the firemen from down the road were just arriving. I heard the driver remark-

"Man, that's what's his name, the van that passed right before this one, this must have just happened! The firemen are only arriving now!"

I don't know how bad the crash was or the state the passengers were in, but I didn't need to. I praised and thanked our Husband over and over for His care and foresight and for the gift of hearing from Him. I would have most probably taken that van if He hadn't told me to make the detour. I missed it by a few minutes.

And the story gets even better. When I got home (still praising profusely) Michele asks me how my day went and tells me that she felt the urge to pray for me. I told her she just might have kept me from being in a van that crashed. She then told me she had felt a strong urge to pray for me an hour and 20 minutes before - right about the time the Lord let me to go the other way.

I not only feel blessed, but sobered as well. I know the enemy is taking cheap shots at us, and he would love to snuff out our life and thus our service to the Lord here on Earth. Let's do our part so He can do the amazing and miraculous -- what we could never do or know about ourselves. I'm so glad I'm on His team!