Divine Appointments

“Divine appointment” is an expression we use occasionally in conversation. These apparently chance encounters happen when someone unexpectedly prays for you or you for them – a prayer that results in a breakthrough. A divine appointment can also result from a chance meeting with someone whom you help or who helps you further the work of God’s Kingdom. Of course, in Christ there are no chance meetings, only divine appointments, and we look for these more and more. Here are some examples of these moments in my life.

I recently made a brief, unscheduled stop at the downtown jail to deliver a copy of a book that an inmate had requested. He thanked me for the book and added, “There’s someone here who wants to see you.” Normally, inmates fill out a request form to see a chaplain, but I agreed to see him. He turned out to be a young man of few words. After a brief greeting he said simply, “I need to change my life.” My reply was, “I know someone who can help you with that!” From there I asked him to explain his request in more detail, after which I shared the gospel and prayed with him to receive Christ! I may or may not see this young man again. But I was glad to be available at the moment he realized his need for a complete life change.

Divine appointments also come in the form of unexpected assignments from God. I learned this lesson the hard way when I received a traffic citation! Such citations cost of hundreds of dollars in L.A., so I took the community-service option. I was assigned to help serve food at a soup kitchen in a nearby church. I arrived on my day off, eager to do my duty and leave. I was handed a broom and directed to begin cleaning the area where the homeless would be served lunch. After working steadily for an hour or so, I was interrupted by the pastor of the church. He asked me why I was cleaning the floors of the soup kitchen. When I explained why I was there and what I do, he said, “I think you must have been sent to us by God!” The pastor then shared that he had no one to present a biblical message to the homeless during their meal and asked if I was willing to fill this need. Since then, I have completed my community service by preaching God’s word to a growing flock of homeless men and women and have returned to this church many times to hear the Word and pray both with the homeless and the volunteers who serve them.

Are you expecting the unexpected? As God provides for you and works through you in unexpected ways so as to further His kingdom – that’s a divine appointment!

Bob Lay is the Dean of TUMI-LA.