Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please CLICK HERE
The Psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord hath made!” God makes perfect days, and our lives are part of that perfection. He often places people in our personal orbit that He wants to bless in unexpected ways. This Spiritual Synchronicity is the way God has of putting together those who are willing to give, with those who need to receive.
Spiritual Assignments
From time to time, God gives us Spiritual Assignments that bless other’s lives in a profound way. These are assignments that can cross cultural and religious lines. When we are open to promptings, and look for opportunities, He will place us in the orbit of someone we can bless.
Do it Now!
I had recently moved to Alpine, Utah, and knew very few of the Ward members. I remember in a Relief Society class hearing how a woman named Rena, had a husband who was in a lot of pain, and we were asked to pray for both of them. I felt that message had spiritual weight and tucked it away in my mind.
A couple of weeks later, I felt a pressure in my heart to make bread. I felt that there was someone I was supposed to make it for. As the time came to take the bread out of the oven, I heard a voice in my mind saying, “Take the bread to Rena.”
I mentally protested, “Well, I don’t even know Rena, or where she lives!” However, I got the bread in a bag ready to give and set out.
It took a while to find her house, and I knocked on the door, but no one was there. I left very puzzled. I drove around the Ward praying for guidance if there was someone else I needed to take it to, but I felt nothing. I returned home feeling confused and uninspired.
Just before 5:00 p.m. I got the prompting, “Give the bread to Rena, now!” So I got in my car and drove over there with the bread. Within 5 minutes of the prompting, I knocked on her door, and this time a forlorn, exhausted woman answered the door still in her overcoat. I felt kind of sheepish, but I explained, “You don’t know me, but I felt like I was supposed to bring you this bread to you now.”
She began to weep saying, “I just arrived home from the hospital. My husband had surgery today, and things don’t look good.” My bread, coming from a complete stranger, made her feel that God really did love her at the absolute moment she needed it. I wept too. Nothing is more delicious than feeling you accomplished God’s will at the moment He asked.
I was filled with awe and wonder that the Lord would use me to help, but the fact was, that I was just someone who was available at the time. Spiritual assignments have no boundaries. In order to receive them, we only have to be open and willing.
Perfect Timing
Just last week, a friend of mine (Michelle) shared an experience she had that day. She was driving in her car, over an hour from home, and suddenly felt prompted to stop at a Walmart nearby. As she was walking through the parking lot, she caught sight of a young woman with her dog, and felt compelled to go talk to her. She discovered that this girl, Caitlin, had Asperger’s, (a form of high functioning autism).
In their conversation, she discovered that Caitlin loved art and had made handmade Christmas ornaments selling them for $15 each but ran out of materials some time ago. Michelle saw an opportunity and felt impressed to encourage Caitlin to continue this pursuit, by taking her to a craft store to buy materials for this creative, entrepreneurial project.
After they bought the supplies, Caitlin shared that her mom had recently died and that she had become homeless. She didn’t know what her next step was, until Michelle came into her life.
Michelle said:
“When I think of how God orchestrated that day so that I would arrive in that parking lot 73.3 miles from my home – at just the right moment to be Jesus’ hands and feet, I am in awe!”
What a blessing Michelle was to this discouraged girl! She answered the call of God and took on a Spiritual Assignment. Who else was in that area that could have done it? Perhaps thousands, but Michelle was open to receive and ready to help. She allowed herself to get in God’s perfect orbit.
He Nailed It!
Elder Bednar had a similar synchronistic experience. He said:
“One day I was repairing the roof on our home. Because I had run out of nails and other materials necessary to finish my task. I went to a local store to purchase the required items. I was wearing my customary work clothes – casual pants and shoes, a well-worn T-shirt, and a baseball hat. Wanting to quickly return home and complete my project, I hurriedly entered the store and began looking for the things I needed.
A man approached me as I was selecting my supplies. He observed, “Elder Bednar, the disguise is not working.” We laughed, and then he inquired, ‘Do you mind if I ask you a question?’
I responded, “Well, that is why I am here.”
He replied quizzically, “What do you mean?”
“I said, “You are the reason I am here. I am doing repair work at my home, and I need a few things to finish the task on which I am working. But I am not in this store simply to buy roofing nails. I am here because God knew we were going to meet each other in this store and that you had something about which you wanted to ask. Please go ahead and share with me your question.”
“We talked in the aisle for about fifteen minutes, and I tried to help him find the answer to his question. Was it merely a coincidence that I encountered this good man at the local store? Or was this episode divinely orchestrated by a loving Savior who knew and responded to the concerns of a faithful man? I believe that in the work of the Lord there is no such thing as a coincidence. The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” (David A. Bednar, One by One, p. 8-9)
Mother Teresa often powerfully taught:
“Go out into the world today and love the people you meet.”
The Lord can place our personal orbit on the path to align with His. When that happens, we begin to do what the Lord would do if He were here. When this perspective becomes our paradigm, and we burst into the day looking and listening for inspiration and opportunities, the Lord will give us the spiritual assignments that ultimately nourish our own souls.
Who can I help today?
You can CONTACT Anne at an********@ho*****.com.
