Transition Series – God Goes Ahead of You

In the mid-1970s, I was going on many missionary journeys. I was about to transition out of full-time ministry in the secular world to full-time ministry in my local church. I received a call from one of the missions team leaders, who told me there had been a cancellation of one of the leaders of the Guatemala team. Since I had been on the teams to Guatemala before, he asked if I would go and help lead the trip. It was the next day! I said, “Tomorrow?” I began to quickly think. I still had a secular job and I had used all of my vacation time. I had no money, because I had used all my savings going on missions trips. I had a boss that might have been the best sinner I have ever met. He was tough. He loved to mock me for my faith in Christ, so I could just imagine what he would say if I asked to leave tomorrow on this missions trip. I did the spiritual thing and said I would pray about it.

As I prayed, I felt sure the Lord was saying, “I want you to do this.” I told the Lord, “I have no money. I know I will lose my job.” However, I felt this urging that I was to go. A few hours later, I got a call from a man who had heard through the grapevine that I was praying about this trip and that I had no money to go. He said, “I want to pay for this trip.” So, I knew I had the confirmation to go.

The next morning at 7 A.M. I showed up at my worksite, ready to quit my job. I told my boss that I wanted to go on another missions trip. He reminded me that I had no vacation time left and asked when I wanted to go. I said, “In a couple of hours.” I told him I was not asking for the time off, but I needed to go. I said I understood that he probably needed to let me go, but I wanted to come and tell him in person, so he would know what I was doing and why I didn’t give him any advance notice. His response shocked me! He said, “Well now, wait a minute. Do you think you might want to do a lot of these?” I said, “I will probably do more. I really enjoy this.” He replied, “Well, I’ll tell you what. You can go on all of them you want to go on. I will let you have the time off. All I’m asking for is a little more advanced warning in the future.” Then, he gave me a raise!

“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11; NIV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Are you a God-follower? Rejoice! He will make a clear path for you!
• You may not be able to see how He is going to work things out for you, but don’t be afraid, keep going, because He will probably surprise you.
• Once you find the faith to know that God will work things out for you, believe that He will do the same for America.
• Proclaim, “Jesus is working it out for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in this land!”
• Intercede for that stubborn door to open. Thank the Lord in advance for guiding your steps and making a way where there may seem to be no way.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, what an encouraging testimony Dutch shared with us today. It shows so clearly how You are always working behind the scenes to be sure that we can do the things You have created us to do. You lead Your people and You lead nations who honor You as their God. You go before us, Jesus. You make a way where there seems to be none. Let faith arise in Your people, so Your enemies can be scattered. Our enemies are Yours! Our nation’s enemies are Yours! “Jesus, You are working things out, so that Your Kingdom can expand and be seen in the earth. America will never be the same once Your Church sees how You prepare the way for our advancement. Clear direction will come. Time will be found. Provision will be released. All of this, because You have a plan, and it will come to pass, if we seek You and trust You, Jesus. Amen.

Today’s decree:

We can trust our good, good, Father! He is already at work to see His plan come to pass in the land through His Body of Believers.