During fitness
there’s a move called “curtsy squats.” It’s a real glute buster! To explain the
move I often say, “You never know when you might meet the Queen of England,
so you better be ready!” God is always on the move to test you and bless
you.
I heard a friend
tell her story of visiting England. All I could think was that I hope she’s
ready with her curtsy squat! As God would have it, she and her friend arrived
at Windsor Castle as the sun was setting. The grounds in front of the castle
were empty. Her heart was in a tender state as her prayer of petition was sent
out to God silently. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire
fulfilled is a tree of life.”-Proverbs 13:1 You know those
moments where you want the Lord to stand and applaud your efforts. You want
that realization of how much God loves you and how he can move a mountain!
The long stretch of
paved road wrapped around the castle and they began to leave. They’d not been
there very long and off in the distance a large vehicle began to approach. (I
thought that she was going to say the police took them because the car looked
very official.) She stepped aside and onto the grass as the car with
official flags drove closer, closer and closer. Like any curious kid, she
peeked in the window. A small hand popped up and a face peeked through the
glass. It was the QUEEN OF ENGLAND! No curtsy squat, she fell to her knees and
began to weep. The car passed.
Her friend in
shock, helped her up. “It was only the Queen.” BUT GOD! God had gone
over the top! None of us are to tell Him how to bless us, however, we are
always a prayer away from seeing that giant fall. Her prayer was to see God
move. He did! We can overlook events as “coincidence.” But don’t. He’s faithful
to bless us with just what we need at the time, a brush with greatness brought
the gift to help her open her eyes to the extravagant greatness God delivers.
At just the right
moment without warning Christ opens your eyes to the greenness of the grass,
the brilliant blue of the sky or the window wave from the Queen. I’ve been
going through the fiery trials which scorch your soul. I thought about the
Queen story and grabbed my free raffle ticket. Now you know I pray for
everything. Is it wrong to say, your will, your way, and maybe I could win
today?
Sitting at the end
of the Jazz Festival I flippantly said I’m going to win! In my heart, I just
wanted to see God cheer me on with applause. You know the feeling where you’re
just low in the inside and all smiles on the outside. The red tickets in my
hand and the number were all matching until the last two. High hopes and
nothing. But everyone understands there’s only one winner, but I sighed
recognizing you don’t put God to the “test,” except in tithing. “Bring
the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And
thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the
windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no
more need.”-Malachi 3:10
Oh wait, the second
raffle! The numbers once again all were matching and then the last two… 22!
They matched! I won! YES! I ran up with the greatest joy and came back to my
seat with the gift cards in hand while showing off with a one-handed cartwheel!
It sounds so silly to be exploding with delight, but I’d just asked God for a
tiny gift and this time he said yes. Many times, he says no, but this time was
yes.
Asking God for a
parking space, a checkout line that goes fast or even to win a raffle isn’t
wrong. It’s wrong however to expect yes, every time. Have you ever thought that
delay in line may keep you from driving into an accident? Delay doesn’t mean
no, often it’s the Lord’s way of directing you to his path. Your will. Your way
Lord.
They’d arrived late
at Windsor Castle. They arrived on time for the Queen. Watch with
expectancy.
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