Sunday, December 13, 2009

For I Know the Plans

Many years ago a friend called in tears. "Do you have a minute?" she began. I saved the file I was working on and sat back in my chair. She blew her nose and took a deep breath. "What's going on?" I said. She shared that she felt her family was under attack. She went on to describe a viscous attack on her family by a man who claimed to be a Christian. She shared how he was doing everything he could to destroy their family business. It seemed he had entered an agreement with her father to purchase the business, only to default later and was causing a great financial hardship on her parents as well as her own immediate family. While she was talking I began praying. I remember telling the Lord, "I don't know what to say to her Lord." I need a little help from you. She is suffering, her family is suffering, they may lose their home. What should I say?" I continued listening for a while and that little voice inside my head told me to go to Jeremiah 29:11. That particular day, many years ago, I wasn't familiar with Jeremiah 29:11 so I couldn't quote it to her. She suggested I send the verse to her in an email. We talked for a little while longer and we prayed before we hung up. I immediately looked up the verse. I got chills. A few hours later I heard from her again. This time the tears were gone. She said, "you aren't going to believe this. But after you sent me the scripture to read, I received another email from another friend just minutes apart. " The excitement continued in her voice. "Guess which scripture she sent for me to read?" Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Whenever I need to be reminded of how God works in my life, I remember the day I sat back in my chair praying for God to use me to help this friend. God doesn't have email, but he uses those of us who do. I will never forget the way I felt at the moment she shared with me how God had worked in my life and another friend of hers to tell her HIS message that day.

4 comments:

Karen Lange said...

That's one of my favorite scriptures. Thanks so much for sharing your story. Blessings! :)

Carol J. Garvin said...

Thanks for this, Katt. It encourages me to remember that even when I don't know what to say or do, God does.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Karen, it's one of my favorites now too. Because of the meaning of the scripture and because the Holy Spirit led me to it when a friend needed to hear it.
Have a great day my friend.
Hugs
Katt

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Carol, one day I mentioned to a pastor that I didn't know how to pray for a friend. He reminded me that even when we don't know how to pray the Holy Spirit will work through is---the trick is to let that happen-----
Hugs
Katt