DIVINE APPOINTMENTS

DOES GOD VALUE SOME APPOINTMENTS MORE THAN OTHERS?
Father God, I don't know which appointments are divine and which ones are ordinary. Do you value some more than others?


Dear child, I order your steps: "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." - Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)


HOW DO WE DISCERN GOD'S AGENDA IN MEETINGS?
I am about to have an important (at least to me) meeting this morning, and I would like to know how to discern: Is this of you, or not?
Dear child, reflect on this: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)


ANNOYING OR ANOINTED
Sometimes, over the years, I have felt sure that your hand, Father God, was on a meeting, and there was something special that was going to come of it, yet nothing ever did, or what came of it was not beneficial to what I was trying to accomplish.
Dear child: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)


Yes, Lord, this is one of my main "life verses" you have given me. Thank you for that! I can trust that each of my meetings is divine, even those that may seem annoying. I need to realize that there is value in every meeting. Keeping an eternal perspective really helps me here, when I remember. Please help me remember, especially during times that my interactions with people seem so innocuous and meaningless (to me).


GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL OUR MEETINGS
I know you have sovereignty over all my appointments, but if there were a way to better discern your hand, that would be most helpful.


Dear child, what I care most about is your motives. Why are you meeting with this person? What is your true motive? "A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart." - Proverbs 21:2 (NIV)


Thank you Father. My job is to have the right motive for the meeting. Got it. What other scripture would be good to look at, Lord?


DO NOT JUDGE THE QUALITY OF MEETINGS BY HUMAN STANDARDS
Dear child: "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." - 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV). You will not know much about the divine agendas for your meetings until you are face to face with me.


Father God, thank you. I will not judge my meetings by my own agenda. Help me to always have a loose grip on "what I want" out of a meeting and care most about "what you want" out of that meeting. Do not judge the quality of the meeting except by this: "Did I love this person with God's love?"


WE ARE CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS IN ALL MEETINGS
Father God, I am your representative, your ambassador. Help me to always remember that and behave accordingly: "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)


Yes, child, you are my way of reaching people, to let them know that I have a plan for their lives, and that they need to seek me to discover that plan. My motives are pure. I want the best for every person. I want all people to know me and be in fellowship with me.


OUR GODLY AGENDA FOR ALL MEETINGS
Thank you Father God. I see my mission clearly, as my agenda for every meeting: "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3 (NIV)


Dear child, do this, and you will always have the right motive for meetings. Now, go and enjoy Michael. Tell him I love him and have a plan for his life. Help him to get to know me better. And leave the results of any earthly work together up to me. Trust me with the relationship. Put it, like all others, in my capable hands.


Father God, thank you. I will. Thank you for this very practical direction this morning on driving meetings and trying to drive outcomes. Help me to place all meetings in your hands. May your will prevail in all of them. May I be your instrument of peace. May you use me to help all whom I meet to come closer to you. Amen.


Your aspiring servant, Daniel M.
November 8, 2023
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. Note: All scriptures quoted are from the NIV.
If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.