Today I woke up as I normally have on all the Saturday’s I’ve awakened. The only difference is that I woke up this Saturday morning to a tweet that reminded me of my purpose for waking up today & my purpose for waking up for the past 25 years of my life. I thank Emily Waito, a world racer, a new friend, a sister in Christ, and most of all a Child of God for tweeting “Everyday of your life is about worship. How can you worship your rightful King Today?”
Yes Richard how can you worship your rightful King today? Will you worship me today or will you take this Saturday off? Maybe this doesn’t impact a lot of people like it did me. I ask this question every morning, and by no means do I achieve it all the time, but by the strength and the power of the Holy Spirit I do my best.
So why did I title this selfless provision? I did because that is the thought that came to my mind today after I gave the homeless man on the corner my jacket, some money, and prayer. As he stood on the corner freezing covered in a hoodie and gloves with a sign that read “I am embarrassed, but I am hungry 25¢ would even help” my heart was immediately convicted. He was freezing and I had a jacket on, he was thankful for 25¢ and I had just made $25 from cutting hair, he was lonely and I was company, he was in need of prayer and God commands me to pray.
I’ve always had a heart for others and especially homeless people. I’ve taken a man in and helped him get on his feet, I’ve given to plenty homeless individuals, I’ve prayed for a group of them before, I’ve served them, I’ve kept in touch with some and taken them back and forth to Church, but this situation was different. This time it was just God, him and I; no friends with this time. I had never taken off my jacket in the cold to keep one warm (yes it was cold,rainy, and windy in Fargo, ND today). I had never prayed at a busy stoplight in traffic, I had never looked one in their eyes and told them “I will remember you”. This was out of my comfort zone, but God isn’t calling us to be comfortable.
Anyway what is interesting is typically every Wednesday I have been doing a total full day fast to grow more in Christ and grow more in biblical discipline for his glory. But after reading Isaiah 58:6-9 which says
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
I realized that my fast isn’t only for me; it is for me to provide & pour my soul out for another in need. Earlier this week, specifically during my fast I searched for and prayed that God would provide me with the opportunity to help an individual such as the man I saw today but I had no luck. Today I smile that God answered my selfless prayer. The last thing I saw of Travis today was a smile and a finger pointed towards heaven.
Selfless Provison– Praying for God to provide you with selfless opportunities
LOVE
