My True Love

2014 (17AD)

As I was looking for a café to buy myself a coffee, the Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts, “Buy that lady a coffee,” referring to the sales lady in the clothing store I had left a few moments earlier. My prior interaction with her was no more than in passing. She had approached me to ask if I needed help as I was flicking through dress hangers. I responded, “No thanks, I’m just browsing,” then she politely let me know she was available if I needed help and stepped away. I thought our conversation was over, but God knew there was more that needed to be said.

I’d like to say I was boldly confident in my response to Gods request, but my head talk immediately turned into an argument with God and myself, fueled by my doubt. Was that my imagination? Was that really You God? Am I to be made a fool? God if that is really You, tell me what type of coffee to order her before I get to the cafe. Café found, but silence from God. Despite the doubt, I pressed on figuring whoever’s idea it was, mine or God’s, a coffee gift is not a big deal and usually appreciated. In case it was just my idea, to save face and money, I ordered only one takeaway coffee for myself and asked for the sugar to be served on the side.  I then went back to the clothing store to find the intended recipient.

The saleslady was busy tidying up a clothing rack, and greeted me all smiles, “You’re back.” I continued with the mini mission, “Yes, I was wondering if you would like a coffee. I just bought one for you.” I intentionally left the God prompting out of the chat, to keep the conversation simple. The lady appeared genuinely delighted, saying, “An act of random kindness and I’m the recipient, thank you, you’ve made my day.” She accepted the coffee and off I walked, grateful to have been a team player in God’s gesture. Her reaction and the presence of the Holy Spirit during our interaction, supported my belief that I had heard the Holy Spirit clearly, and I too felt the moment lifted my day. So simple, so fun, spending time in step with God.

As I headed back to the cafe to order another coffee for myself, I pondered the goodness and kindness of God. How joyful it was to be included in His unexpected, small gesture of love towards this lady, the importance of which only God really knew. I also expressed my gratitude to God that I did not have to do anything too bold this time, I hadn’t mentioned God, nothing socially awkward, just a normal, kind, friendly chat. Peace rested in my spirit and off I went to continue my dress shopping.

Three hours later after no success in my dress hunt, I was walking back through the shopping centre, my thoughts filled with which shopping centre to go to next. As I was about to walk past the same dress shop, the Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts again. “Now tell her, “The one you are going away with this weekend is not your true love. I am your true love.””

Who am I to interfere with this lady’s love life? This is a very specific message to be giving to a stranger, and in her workplace! But after the coffee chat with God earlier, I was sure of what I was hearing, and frankly not surprised there was more than just a coffee involved in this day’s mission. I accepted the task, whilst tension and elation arose equally within me.

In the early days of God asking me to deliver a word of knowledge to a stranger, I would immediately escalate emotionally, into a faith vs fear crossroad. Fear in my head sounds like, that was your imagination, what would you know, they will think you’re crazy, as if the creator of the universe would be speaking to you. Faith in my head sounds like, I know the feel of Your character and sound of Your gentle voice, God. You know and love this person, and You know exactly what their heart needs to hear from You. When you speak, You have love, power, authority and wisdom exceedingly beyond mine. Yes Lord, whatever you ask, send me.

At these crossroads, I will always follow God’s lead, but at times it takes a moment to convince my fears to simmer down. This has improved over time with practice, as I have learnt to recognize and trust Gods voice quickly. I have also observed the pattern of the recipient seeking the information in prayer or wonder before I arrive on the scene, so God has already prepared them to receive. All that being said, there is a unique vulnerability and intimacy required each time, by myself and the stranger.

So, after my faith vs fear internal argument had been settled, I calmed and centred myself on God's lead. I walked back into the store to find the salesperson from three hours earlier standing behind the service counter.

I met her at the counter, “Hi, I am not sure if you remember me, I bought you a coffee this morning.” She was all smiles, “Of course I remember you.” I continued, “Well, I am a Christian, and as I was just coming back past your store, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and asked me to give you a message.” She stood wide eyed with her gaze firmly fixed upon me, listening. Good start, she is open to possibility. I continued, “The Holy Spirit asked me to tell you that the one you are going away with this weekend is not your true love, and that Jesus is your true love.” Then I paused, waiting on Gods lead.  

I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit fully envelop us both, and the lady burst into tears upon His touch, “Thank you.” There were too many tears to continue the chat, and a hug seemed unnecessary with the counter between us, so I quietly said, “Bless you, Jesus sees you and loves you,” and left the store continuing direct to the car park. My part was done. Despite my meek tone, the honest message was well received, hitting the mark of her heart. The rest was between her and God.

A year later I was asked to speak at church for a Mother’s Day morning tea, and I thought I would share this same story within my talk. As I was preparing the talk, the idea came to ask the sales lady for her permission to share the story (even though there was no identifying information in the story), and to invite her to church. I had left the idea a little late though and only had the Saturday to find her. I figured the chances were slim given I met her on a Wednesday morning a year ago, and Saturdays are usually staffed by teenage casuals. Despite the odds, I made the special trip out to visit the store to find her.

To my surprise the same lady was working that morning. I approached her and said, “I am not sure if you remember me, I was here about this time last year and I bought you a coffee?” With a big smile she immediately confirmed she remembered me. I explained to her that I was speaking in church the next day sharing the story of our interaction, and I was wondering if she would like to come along. She was bubbling with excitement but immediately declined my invitation with a long explanation. She went on to tell me she would be at her own church tomorrow. She said that when I came into her store a year ago, she was going on a Buddhist retreat that weekend with a friend.

All this time, because of my human thinking, I thought the one she was going away with that weekend, who was not her true love, was a man she was travelling with. But the message was from God’s perspective, not human perspective; He was speaking about the false god, Buddha.

Side note, Christianity is the only religion that provides a relationship with a God who is currently alive. All other religions are established upon a person’s set of rules or lessons, a person who is now dead. Relationship vs rules. I will choose and enjoy relationship with the living God any day, over listening to a bunch of rules set by a past human with about the same wisdom as the rest of us.   

The salesperson went on to explain that she had been a Christian in her younger years but had walked away as an adult. When I met her, she had been searching for truth and meaning, hence the Buddhist retreat. My message had reignited her awareness of Jesus in her life, and whilst she did go away on her Buddhist retreat weekend, she did not pursue the Buddhist religion any further.

She continued to explain to me that a few months after that weekend she experienced two major medical setbacks. She expressed her gratitude to me for speaking into her life that day, as she knew when she became ill that she needed to immediately return to Jesus. She explained she was well now, and she did not need to accept my invitation to church because she had found a strong support network in her local church family. We hugged and farewelled one another, and I have not seen her since.

God loves and cares for all His children and wants them safe and home in His arms. Can you feel His love for you today? Can you feel Him drawing on your heart to come home to Him? Our background, culture, family, finances, behavior, and education, none of these things matter for us to return to Him. We are each His beloved child, He is the true love our hearts are searching for. There is one Creator, one Father God accessible through His son Jesus Christ. He loves us and welcomes each of us home, ready to receive us as we are today.

Gods Word:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel [Jesus birth, life, death and resurrection] the Gentiles [all people] are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.