"Consider the lilies ... And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink... your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things..." Luke 12:27-31

'Consider the Lilies'
(Your Father Knows)

DIANE DEW

So when I found myself in a predicament one day, in rush-hour, downtown Atlanta, with no bus money, I knew my heavenly Father would provide. I just didn't realize how miraculously the answer would come.

"Father, you know where I am," I prayed. "You know how many hours it would take me to walk home, and how tired I already am from a long day's work. Please provide a way."

My natural mind figured one of two things: Either the Lord would arrange for a friend from bible study to "just happen" to be driving by and offer me a ride (that had happened another time); or I'd "just happen" to find money on the sidewalk.

I knew the possibility of either of those coincidentally occurring on this particular day, seemed almost impossible.  But I really believed he could do it.

But God chose to go even further than my limited, natural mind could fathom, that day. He wanted not only to answer my prayer -- he wanted me to know, beyond any shadow of doubt, that it was He who answered it!

As I began walking, I remembered Luke 12:27-31. "Consider the lilies how they grow... seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind... your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things... all these things shall be added unto you."

"...your Father knoweth that ye have need..." No need to inform the Almighty of the situation! He knew where I was and what I needed. And if anyone could be trusted, surely it was He. He would provide.

It was over 100 degrees, and I was thirsty, so I quickly added a request for enough money for a drink. No big deal for the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, I thought.

Within minutes, the sidewalk swarmed with pedestrians as offices closed for the day. It must be 5 o'clock, I remember thinking. Now I can't even watch the sidewalk for loose change.

At that moment, a man with dark, loosely curled hair and the kindest, most compassionate eyes, pushed a dollar bill into my hand and said, "Here, you asked for this?" -- and kept walking!

I turned, wanting to thank him and say, "Yes, I just prayed for that! Let me tell you!" -- but he had disappeared into the crowd! In fact, no one with his type of clothing was anywhere in sight.

Wow, is there a God, or what? I thought. How can I ever question his provision again? (Many more challenges have since presented, of course: "...your faith groweth..." 2 Thess 1:3)

I stepped into Tanner's restaurant and ordered a 60-cent orange juice to go, then boarded the city bus with the remaining 40 cents. As I settled back in my seat on that hot summer day, the ice-cold drink tasted especially refreshing. And I felt so secure in my Father's great love.

To those who would excuse this event as coincidence, I point to the fact that it occurred in Atlanta (not NY, not LA, etc.), to me (not to any of the many others in the crowd), and on that particular day (not a week later, or a day earlier, but just moments after I prayed). 

Was he an angel? the Lord? or another believer responding to the urging of the Spirit? Personally, I feel I know, deep inside. But there's no place for speculation. I only know my heavenly Father is personally aware of and cares for my every need.

© Copyright 1998 Diane S. Dew  All Rights Reserved

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