Stacy turned to give a small smile and half wave to the kind stranger who gave her a ride home. She normally didn’t accept rides from people she didn’t know, but the lady was getting her car serviced at the automotive shop when Stacy was told how much it would cost to fix the minivan that had broken down on the side of the road.
As she wondered what she could find to feed the kids for dinner with no money to stop at the store and no vehicle to get there, she smelled the tantalizing aroma of oregano and tomato sauce. She noticed a box on her front porch and saw a casserole dish with homemade lasagna inside with a note from a neighbor saying, “I thought you might enjoy this.” She whispered a quick prayer of thanks as she walked to her neighbor’s to pick up the kids.
Be the Answer
Read any biography of a famous missionary and you will see the countless times that they received answers to prayers for the basic necessities of life at what seemed like the last moment. While God met their needs at the right time, He did so through people. You can be the answer to someone’s prayer if you pay attention to the needs around you.
Anyone who longs to be used by God will find opportunities around them. He may call some people to formal ministry by joining or starting an organization. But He calls everyone to care for those around them who need help.
Look for people who can use your help. They may not be obvious like the homeless on the street or the women and children in shelters. If you are willing to pay attention, you can find someone on your street who could use your help.
- The neighbor with the overgrown lawn because she is working long shifts and has no one to do the task for her
- The senior neighbor who sits by her window and waves as you walk the kids to the bus stop
- The single father who arrives home late in the evening with his three kids
- The teenager who spends a lot of time sitting alone on the curb down the street from his home
Open Your Eyes
If you pray for God to show you how you can be the answer to someone’s prayer, you must open your eyes to look for His answer. Notice the people around you instead of being locked in your world. Think about how many times you go through your day with blinders on. You see only what is in front of you and what you are focused on.
You miss the people around you or only give them a vague glance. You never really look at them to see their needs. While you can’t solve every need you see, practicing paying attention will open your eyes to ways you can help. Stop being so self-absorbed that you fail to notice those around you that need what you are able to give. Whether it is a ride home when a car breaks down or a hot meal waiting on their doorstep, you have the ability to meet someone’s needs.
Look for ways to minister to someone on your street or in your neighborhood this week and then leave a comment about what you plan to do. You might inspire someone else to take action.
