I need your help this week in finishing this post!
First, I will start with sharing a few thoughts about “stepping out in faith” and then if YOU would think of one way you have done that in your life and leave it in the comment section below you would be helping me out in finishing these thoughts! No worries. I’ll remind you at the end so you don’t forget! 😉
Have you ever stepped out in faith, seizing the moment, to do what suddenly pops in your head knowing it was part of a divine plan?
After all, our lives are not really our own, are they?
Technically, every thing we have and are really belongs to God!
This past week I found myself actively trying to ACT when something popped into my head prompting me to do something; usually something out of my comfort zone or different.
I tried to step out in faith that if Jesus were in my shoes, which technically He is since He is in me, that I would do what He would do.
Why not spread Him to others in whatever way we see presents itself?
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One day this week, I went a little out of my way to go to the only Dunkin Donuts that I know of that still has my favorite pumpkin flavor available. I opted to go to the drive through and as I pulled into the parking lot, I thought “I should do a pay it forward” which I had never done before.
After placing my order, noting there was indeed a car right behind me, and then after paying for my order, I asked the gentleman waiting on me if I could pay for the car behind me. He said sure and took my money.
It felt good to do something I’ve never done before and do a pay it forward…stepping out in faith that I was suppose to do that for that particular person since the thought randomly popped in my head.
Photo courtesy of Ervins Strauhmanis under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0); words added by hopetoinspireyou.com
Addendum to this story: Just today, I decided to treat myself once more to a pumpkin flavor coffee so I went to the drive through of this same Dunkin Donuts.
Much to my awe and wonder, when I pulled up to the window to pay, the gentleman said it was already paid for! How amazing is that? God’s perfect timing once again!
It was the first time this has ever happened to me so I was in shock and started to tell him I just did that recently. He ended up being the same person and remembered when I paid it forward. It was neat to hear him say the day I did the pay it forward there was a chain reaction of it that lasted for 6 or 7 cars. What an awesome God moment to see how that went full circle!
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Another day this week I really did something outside of my comfort zone and again something I have never done before. I was driving home from church and saw an older gentleman with a backpack on his shoulders and a few plastic bags of groceries that he was stopping to adjust as he was kind of hobbling along the street. It seemed like it was difficult for him to walk. The thought of stopping to ask if he needed a ride popped in my head but I kept going a ways.
I pulled into another church parking lot down the road, debated if I should go back, found myself clearing off the passenger, front seat and headed back down the road. I kept looking down the side streets too and thought at first that the man must have gotten to his destination because I didn’t see him.
But, then I spotted him, stopped once again, kind of struggling with his bags. It was perfect that he was in front of another church which was convenient for me to turn around in the one parking lot. No traffic was coming either way either so I rolled down the passenger side window and asked him if he needed a ride somewhere. He actually said it was very nice that I stopped to ask and thanked me for not hitting him (hope he didn’t think I was a bad driver!), but that he was good. He recently had hip surgery and needed to get the kinks in his back worked out. I double checked once more before heading on my way after adding a “God bless you.”
I do believe Jesus would have done the same thing if He were driving down the street and saw the gentleman. Though he did not accept the ride, because I stepped out of my comfort zone, maybe the guy realized that someone cared and maybe I needed to learn to step out in faith and obey that voice of God.
A motivational sign spotted at my work place today that I thought was fitting!
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After attending a funeral of the founding person for the company that my husband works for, we made a quick stop at the store before heading to the funeral luncheon. The oldest son who did the eulogy did a wonderful job encompassing all aspects of the gentleman’s life, mentioning how generous he always was and how much he showed loved to so many.
My husband and I were at the self check out line waiting to check out and we see a gentleman trying to pay for his items. We could see on the screen it said “Credit card denied.” It seemed like he was trying another card when a register became available for us.
Right before that, I asked my husband if we should pay for the guy’s stuff. He said he thought about that but we hesitated. We checked our stuff out and saw the gentleman still at his register so my husband went over and asked him if he could pay for it. The gentleman actually said sure, shook his hand and thanked him.
Again, it’s not something we have ever done but seeing someone in need, stepping out in faith, doing what Jesus would do, feels like the right thing.
Photo courtesy of Mike Mozart under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0); words added by hopetoinspireyou.com
Okay…It is time to finish this post. That is where you come in my dear reader!
In the comment section below can you take a few minutes to think of a time you were led to step out in faith and be Jesus to someone?
I look forward to reading your stories! Thank you for sharing and God bless!
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. –Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
Years ago, we were having breakfast at Friendly’s in Endicott. An older man came by himself and sat near us. I felt sorry that he was alone. He was also disabled. He also ordered just a small breakfast – coffee and a slice or 2 of french toast. I paid for our families order, left, but came back in and paid for his. I just felt as if I was being nudged to do so.
Thanks so much for helping finish this post, Sandy! Thank you for sharing that example….I love that nudge that we need to listen to more! Thanks for reading and blessing! 🙂
Author note: It has been very inspiring for me to read the stories of some readers of how they have stepped out in faith that I wanted to share with you. How wonderful to see how God works in each of our lives!
1-Giving my husband’s stroke over to Yeshua and Dada. I have no control over how he manages (or miss manages) his new life style. I must constantly pull back from worry and nagging and step into the throne room. I do this by thinking of my worst fears and trusting Yeshua with them, handing them to Him.
2-I learned to step out in faith 5 years ago when my husband decided he needed a divorce. I moved me and 4 dogs from NY to MS, had nowhere to live when I got there and only knew one person. I was taken care of and have a very amazing life. I have come back to know Jesus so much better, totally different than the God I was raised with.
3-Every Mother’s day since my mom died I go to a local supermarket and look for an elderly woman shopping. I then hang around and talk to whatever cashier’s line she’s in and tell them to tell her her groceries are paid for than give me the bill. Since I always did that for my mom I figured I would continue that.
4-Many years ago someone ( we never did find out who) sent us $300 cash for years when we were poor at Christmas time. Together we still do that every year to people, kinda paying it forward. Never for recognition just because…..last year I bought 100$ worth of lottery tickets and with my grandkids went to the store parking lot and just put them on people’s windshield.
Thank you Christine. A great reminder to live in the moment and be aware of what’s around you. If you feel the prompting in your spirit, then follow it, God has a plan!
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Amen, Laura! How true when you say “be aware of what’s around you.” That part reminded me of the story you shared with me recently about you running into the pharmacy while your husband waited in the car. When you came out you saw your husband at a stranger’s car and you realized the person was having a stroke. You summoned help and that person is alive today because of God’s perfect timing in our lives. We never know how God will use us to bless another! 🙂
Those are wonderful experiences of faith, Christine. What could be my favorite story of faith? Just before my phone died on me completely, I won a blogging contest with phone as the grand prize. When my clients terminated their contracts, I never run out of blog sponsors and Fiverr gigs. Like every day I’d get an email inquiring about it. God provides!
That is an awesome story of God providing, Lux!! It sure makes me smile and thank Him for His goodness! Thanks for helping write the end of my post this week!! Sweet blessings to you, my friend!
Thank you Christine for sharing some very touching comments about “Stepping out in Faith”. I had not really thought of sharing them. After reading some comments from others I realized how precious those moments were.
1. While I was driving a truck, I remember a time in San Antonio, Tx. There was a family at the back entrance of the restaurant. They had boxes and bags of what appeared to be all of their belongings. I asked if they needed help. The young man in his 30s said they had traveled from El Paso to find work. When they arrived at San Antonio the job had been filled. He claimed his dad was going to travel up the next day. There was the young man, a baby, another child, his young wife, and his mother. They only had enough money to buy the kids some crackers. I gave them enough money to buy a real meal for each of them. It was so nice to see them smile. Later that night I saw them again. I asked if they had a place to sleep, they said no. I said there is a motel across the parking lot from the truck stop. They went over and asked how much was the room. He came back and I gave him what he said plus enough to get dinner and breakfast. My heart began to break when his mother began to cry. She spoke Spanish so the boy translated it for me. I told her they were more than welcome and I handed her a bible track and asked someone to read it to her. I left feeling good but maybe it may have been a little inappropriate, but it did lift my spirits.
2. I started working at a small grocery store this past Christmas. I had been asking God for someone to help. There was an elderly woman in a motorized shopping cart come into line. She was noticeably upset. Her grocery bill came to $55.00. she tried her EBT card and she used the wrong pin. After the 3rd time, the card shut off. She starts crying and telling the cashier that she just got word that her brother passed away and the food was for a funeral reception. I hardly carry any cash but had taken extra that morning. I asked my manager if I could pay for her groceries and she said yes. I asked my manager not to tell who paid, just tell her Merry Christmas. A week later I received the same amount in the mail. We can’t out-give God. Thank you for letting me share.
Bruce–Thank you so very much for reading and for sharing the awesome ways you stepped out in faith to bless others. You certainly were Jesus to them following in His footsteps. What a confirmation of God’s goodness with you receiving the same amount in the mail too. Wow! God is so good and faithful; He makes me smile! Keep being His hands and feet as you are. Blessings to you and your family~