WHO IS SITTING BESIDE YOU?

by Tammy Phillips
July 16, 2020

As every man hath received the gift, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 4:11 KJV

As I write this, I know that I am going to be sitting in airport and then on a plane for a couple of hours.  It is also a “time” of “social distancing at least six feet.”  Fear attempts to creep in, as I wonder what  God will ask me to do next.  Will I step in faith?  I shut the door to fear.  I choose to minister (serve or attend) as called.

The other day in the doctor’s office, my spirit was stirring, and I thought I was going to have to act.  I was about to minister to a lady who could hardly walk or breathe, but she was called back for her appointment.  We have to make the most of our opportunities, correct?   I know since I am writing this, I am going to be given a ministry opportunity.  It is a little bit harder to navigate with the fears of the corona virus in peoples mind.  I’ll just follow the lead of the Lord and let him do the talking.

Since I do not work outside the home, a few years back, I was looking for creative ways to make connections with people to share the love of God.  Connections build relationships.  Relationships build trust.  Trust builds faith and confidence.  Leave it to the Holy Spirit.  I was seeking and He directed with this question: “WHO IS SITTING BESIDE YOU?”  He whispered, “You only have to talk to one person at a time, not the whole room.”  I am an introvert, so this really worked for me.  How many times have I sat beside someone at church and just gave them the perfunctory, “Hi. How are you?”  I began to attend to the “one beside me.”  I would introduce myself.  Make conversation and then ask if I could pray with them about anything.  It’s amazing how many different people God has placed beside me at church.

It started at church, but it poured over to football games, business dinners, restaurants, and grocery stores.  It is a little more challenging with the virus, but we will let God handle that. Of course, this just dropped in my Spirit, “Who sits beside you most often?  Family?  Friends? Our spouses? “

We can focus on family members.  We can be intentional about reaching out to them and leaning in.  We can pay special attention to our spouses.  The ones we love should receive our best and that is not always true.  We, or I, take for granted the ones closest to us.

I enCOURAGE you to minister to the one who is sitting beside you.  Attend to their needs.  Serve happily.

(PLEASE READ TOMORROWS!)