Daily Power #193

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

Recently Amy and I got away for the weekend, so I planned a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant. We had just been seated when a lady at another table gave us that “Hey! You’re our pastor” look. I tried to avoid eye contact at first, using the excuse that I was just focusing on my beautiful wife. But then Amy noticed this woman glancing over at us too. She sort of smiled and said hi, and then the other woman did the same and came over to talk to us.

As it turned out, we knew this woman from church, but she had moved away awhile back. We chatted and caught up, and then we said, “Hey, you know, we’re about to order. Do you want to sit down and talk for a couple of minutes?”

We started talking, and the next thing I knew, our food came just as this woman opened up about some really hard struggles in her life. She kept apologizing and offering to leave, and part of me wanted to say, “It’s so good to see you. We’ll keep praying for you” so I could get on with date night. But I knew that’s not what Jesus would do, nor would it be what my wife wanted.

We hadn’t planned to spend those two hours talking with this lady, listening, praying with her, crying a little bit. But later Amy and I agreed that time with her had been the most important part of our entire weekend.

Power Lift

Jesus, I want to let go of my plans so that I can be present for the needs of others. Today help me to put other people ahead of myself.