Divine Moments
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
For several months, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me toward something uncomfortable: courage.
Not the courage to preach on a street corner or stand behind a pulpit. Simply the courage to invite people to church when God opened the door.
No script. No agenda. Just obedience.
One morning, while checking out at the grocery store, the cashier rang up my groceries with an infectious joy. He spoke openly about how blessed he was to be alive. Naturally, I asked where he attended church.
He smiled awkwardly and admitted that he wasn’t attending anywhere.
I thought, Perfect. Here’s the opportunity.
I told him about our church and casually mentioned that there was always room for him if he ever wanted to come.
In a normal world, the conversation would have ended there. But following Jesus rarely feels normal.
Suddenly, this complete stranger began sharing details of his life that left me speechless. He had recently been released from prison. He confessed that he struggled with anger and shame. He spoke of saying hurtful things to the people he loved and carried deep regret because of it.
What began as a simple invitation became an unexpected confession.
Later, as I unloaded groceries with my son, we laughed about the encounter because these moments seem to happen to me all the time.
Friends. Strangers. Acquaintances.
Over the years, I’ve sometimes asked God, Why? Why can’t I just have normal conversations? Why does every interaction seem to uncover someone’s pain?
Yet for more than a decade, nearly every morning, I’ve prayed prayers of divine intervention:
“Lord, use me for Your glory.”
“Place me where You want me.”
“Open doors for Your Kingdom.”
I never stopped to consider that God might actually answer those prayers.
Recently, my family attended a squadron softball game. We packed enough food to feed half the team—hot dogs wrapped in foil, fruit, condiments, the whole works. We planned to share with hungry teammates.
When we arrived, we discovered our team’s game wouldn’t begin for another two hours.
While waiting, we sat with a military spouse and her young daughter. As we shared food and conversation, she unexpectedly began opening up about a recent family event that left her husband in emotional toil with grief, loss and anger.
We listened and offered practical resources available through the military community. Then we packed up to leave.
As we walked toward our vehicles, I felt a persistent prompting in my spirit. “Pray for her.”
I dismissed it and let the moment pass.
I told my husband that I felt like I should have prayed with her and felt like it was a missed opportunity. To my surprise, he admitted he had sensed the exact same thing. We both agreed that next time we would not ignore that prompting.
But God, in His mercy, wasn’t finished.
A few minutes later, while sitting in my van, I watched as this young woman walk directly to the vehicle parked in front of mine.
The door was open again.
This time I stepped out.
I asked if I could pray for her and she quietly said yes.
I don’t remember every word of that prayer, but I remember asking God to strengthen her, give her wisdom as she supported her husband, and asked God to surround their family with people who would walk beside them in the difficult days ahead.
When the prayer ended, I hugged her. She didn’t let go. Tears streamed down her face and she whispered, “Thank you.”
As I climbed back into the van, my daughter looked at me and I said, “This was supposed to happen.”
She nodded.
My husband didn’t get the time of the game wrong. It was a divine moment God had planned.
Jesus promised His followers that after He departed, the Holy Spirit would come to guide, empower, and lead them (John 16:13). Our God is alive. The Holy Spirit is still moving today. Continually prompting us to do the will of the Father.
How do we know when the spirit of God is speaking to us? Well, for starters, scripture instructs us to pray for one another and that is not the enemy’s tactic.
And sometimes the answer to our prayers for divine intervention is that God intends for us to become part of the equation. We are not spectators.
The world is deeply fallen. People carry wounds we cannot see and are desperate for hope, prayer, or simply someone willing to listen.
So be confident, the Holy Spirit often opens doors long before we realize it.
The question is not whether God is working.
The question is whether we will walk through the doors He opens.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” — Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
Reflect
1. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt prompted to speak, pray, encourage, or invite someone but dismissed it? Explain.
2. What fears typically keep you from obeying those promptings?
3. Are you praying prayers that invite God to use you? If so, are you prepared to follow through?
Prayer
Father, give us eyes to see the people You place in our path. Make us sensitive to the voice of Your Spirit and courageous enough to obey when You prompt us to speak, pray, invite, or simply listen. Forgive us for the opportunities we have missed. Teach us to recognize divine moments and to faithfully participate in the work You are already doing around us. Use us for Your glory in ordinary places of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
