Back in 1981, a musical group named Journey recorded a song “Don’t Stop Believin’ “, and was lately made famous again by an Indiana janitor singing it on America’s Got Talent. The beginning of the song goes like………
“Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit. He took the midnight train going anywhere”
These lyrics speak of many who may be going through tough times in life. Both believers and non-believers alike can go through periods of stress, disappointment, anger, resentment, or frustration that might drive us to wanting to take a midnight train going ANYWHERE else. But think about that. We are ALREADY going somewhere! We are walking through the life that God has given us.
In that same song, the chorus goes like…….
“Don’t stop believin’, Hold on to that feelin’………”
Jesus tells us to “Don’t stop believing in Me! Don’t stop trusting Me! Don’t stop knowing I am there!”
Yet, God makes appointments for us all the time! We just don’t go through a well-planned execution of do-list items every day. He plans through His celestial magnificence and authority the paths that we travel each day. Example:
I went shopping at a Kroger store late on Friday, 1018. I thought it was going to be a routine trip. But the Lord had other plans……. I parked in a different area of the lot this time because Kroger shuts some of its entry doors as they prepare to wrap up the day. As I finished shopping, I pulled the basket to my car and another vehicle was parked next to mine with a lady and a guy in it. Their window was down, and I engaged in a conversation. Just when I thought I was on a routine “train going anywhere”, the conversation developed into stories about cancer survival, rough roads in life, tears running down our cheeks, and it ended with me praying for each of them. It was amazingly clear this was not a random chance meeting, but a guided trajectory of ministerial significance.
The Lord does this all the time! We might have distinct plans to meet named people, but God has wonderful ways to introduce strangers to others in His mapping His intent through us! Awesome!
“Lord, thank You as a believer for being ever around us, arranging things in our lives that provoke us, groom us, prepare us, pull us, guide us, and steer us to places where You need us to invest! People NEED You, and sometimes they don’t know it. Lord, let me NOT complain; count me in!!!!! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”