By Leah Pratt -

Have you ever gotten that fluttery feeling in your stomach that you are in a certain place at a certain time for a God-given purpose? For me, it usually means that I have stumbled upon someone I am to reach out to in Christ's love. Many Christians refer to these seemingly chance meetings as "divine appointments," due to the fact that they are not really "by chance" at all but by God's providence! One of the most dramatic divine appointments in my life occurred while I was a junior in college.

Picture it: late-night grocery run, empty store, only one cashier...you know the drill. I puttered around the store, snagging the items needed, ticking off my list as quickly as I could before the dreaded closing message blared out over the loudspeaker. By the time I wheeled my shopping cart up to the checkout, I believe I was indeed the last customer in the store.
Her name tag read "Julie," a wide-eyed, checker full of too much energy for 11pm. And then it began--a conversation with all manner of detail far beyond the normal, shallow banter of strangers. I don't know if it was the caffeine she'd been drinking to stay alert or the Lord's sovereignty (or both!), but Julie shared and shared in what seemed like an eternity-filled, five-minute time block. I could have shut down; I could have stifled the convo, but I firmly believed that this was a God-appointed meeting. This girl instantly felt comfortable with me, and she obviously needed the ear of someone who cared.
I don't remember every detail of what I was able to share with Julie that night, but I trust that in the power of the Spirit, God's love was made known. We spoke of God's will in hard times. I shared about the importance of prayer, and I ensured I would do that for her situation. I implored Julie to seek out a church family and begin a real relationship with the Lord.
After those few, tender moments passed, a couple of other customers emerged as the closing announcement rang out. With the conversation over, and no reconnect in sight, I knew that I had planted seeds that night---Gospel seeds. And I still pray for Julie from time to time, trusting that God has the power to draw her toward new life through salvation.
So what about you? Are you open to these types of divine conversations? I admit, I'm not always in the right head and heart space to do it myself, but I encourage you to keep your eyes open for opportunities to share. And let God lead you to be bold and plant those seeds!
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Leah Pratt serves as the WMU Director of Indiana's White River Association.