Great Encounters

Happy Saturday! This week personally have felt like the longest week ever and I’m honestly kind of glad that it’s winding down. In all transparency this week has been a tad bit chaotic for me and I found myself feeling overwhelmed and experiencing frustration.

Even in my chaos I noticed how God intentionally and strategically ordered my steps to be in certain places at the right time. I experienced two encounters this week that allowed me to be in a position to pray for two people who were complete strangers to me. I think about how in both situations and how in the first situation I woke up at my usual time and typically I’ll lay there for like 10-15mins before actually getting up but this particular day I didn’t. I ended up actually getting to the place I was going earlier than I planned. Even though I was early I ended up in position to encounter an opportunity to be used by God.

In the second situation I actually arrived where I needed to be on time but took my time getting to my appointment to where I was “almost” late. I remember just sitting in the car for a while before going in. I think about how even in that I went in at the right moment. God orchestrated an encounter with a stranger who I had an opportunity to pray for. Both encounters left me realizing how God orchestrates everything and it doesn’t catch Him by surprise as much as it amazes us. I thought on how God never ceases to amaze me. Both encounters truly uplifted me and impacted me in such a mighty way. Those encounters with these two individuals increased my level of gratitude.

It also highlighted to me about how we can be so quick to move and go to the next that we don’t often just slow down. Lately God has been having me move slower literally and be more present and aware. When I’m moving fast trying to complete task that’s when I often find myself scrambling and forgetting things. I’ll often encourage and remind myself to just simply slow down.

Imagine how many missed encounters or opportunities have passed simply because our focus is always on the “next”. There’s beauty in stillness. Today I want to challenge you to slow down and be more present. Be open to allowing God to use you.

My prayer today is that we will slow down and embrace the present. I pray that we will have more encounters that will show us who God truly is in His character.

With love,

-Yours truly, Eb