“Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.”
2 Timothy 4:2 NLT
Exhausted, Judy and I hoped for a minute or two of peace when we arrived at our airport gate. Glancing at the woman a few seats away from me, I noticed that her fingernails were very long…and dark purple. She seemed absorbed in a thick book: Real Ghosts… and Other Haunted Places.
I really didn’t want to get involved, but breathing a quick prayer, I spoke to the ghost reader, “I see from the book you are reading that you must be on a spiritual journey.” I was surprised by her response. “Why yes,” she replied. She seemed interested in discussing spiritual things. Within minutes, I learned that her name was Jane and that she had left the Mormon Church. She seemed shy, but grateful for the chance to talk about her questions. “The spirit world is very real,” I said, motioning to her book. “But Jesus Christ is greater than any spirit of deception. And, Jane, this meeting is not by chance. God is concerned that your spiritual journey leads you to Christ.” Suddenly, our gate agent called and we had to head for our flight. But not before I got Jane’s address to send her follow-up material.
As our plane lifted off for home, the Spirit brought a convicting verse to mind: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season.” I confess that I’d been hoping for some “time off,” a few minutes of privacy and retreat, a chance to be “out of season.” But in the next moment, God insisted that I be in season. My few moments of privacy were nothing compared to the eternal destiny of Jane’s restless spirit.
Agree with God today that you will be alert to the Spirit’s voice when he says, “Go start a conversation with that person.”
Father, I know if I lack courage to speak, You are the Source. Help me be willing to be willing to step into someone’s world with the very word that could save them.
