Focused Christianity

I remember when I stopped delivering food for Uber and decided to pick up people. I was anxious but was excited to see where this would all lead. I had just finished praying, asking God to use me, when for my first ride of the day I picked up Linda in an apartment complex. She was young, probably in her 20’s. Passengers normally get in the back behind the passenger seat, which she did. My app said it was going to be a 20-minute ride. Because I was new to driving Uber, I hadn’t perfected any way to begin a conversation with my riders. So, here we were, no one talking, and I was about halfway through the ride. I was starting to wonder how God would use me just driving someone to their destination without the opportunity to talk to each other! After about 10 minutes into the drive, Linda suddenly simply stated, “I think I am going to start drinking more wine”. I quickly replied, “As opposed to what?” I asked. “Hard drinks. I normally drink Tequila!” she responded. “That’s interesting. Why the change?” I asked. She stated, “I had the most remarkable thing happen to me today. Two men came to my door and asked if they could come in and talk with me about Jesus. After about an hour, they helped me pray to ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins. They said I was a Christian! But I had to leave for work and now I am sitting here trying to see what I should change now that I am one!” I must confess to you that I almost drove off the road! I looked at the app, and it estimated that the ride had about 8 minutes left! I quickly shared with her that I didn’t think it was an accident that she got into my car. I told her that I had just started praying each day that I drove for Uber, that God would use me, and I shared with her that I used to be a pastor. She quickly sat forward in the back seat and exclaimed, “Oh my Lord, quickly, tell me everything I need to know to start this new life!” Without really spending any time thinking about what I would share in such a situation, I quickly began to share the very principles that I shared in part one of this book! I had never actually verbalized them before, nor shared how I was trying to focus my Christianity in a way that would allow me to walk (or drive) with God each day. I shared that I believed the best way to love God was to let Him love others through you. I told her about each of the five principles in the few minutes I had before I arrived at her place of work. She was like a sponge in her responses, taking it all in. I told her to find a good church that believed the Bible and centered on loving God and others. I then asked her if I could pray with her. She immediately said YES and reached back to take my hand. At this point, I had never thought about praying with a rider. I was not sure if Uber would allow it, and if she reported me to Uber and shared the offer for prayer, I could quickly be disqualified and out of a job. However, I knew this was a God moment and immediately began to pray for Linda. I thanked God for the men who came to her apartment and led her to Christ and forgiveness. Then I prayed that God would reveal Himself to Linda throughout the days, weeks, months and years of her life that was ahead of her. I asked God to lead the right people her way to give her direction, and that she would quickly learn to hear His voice and understand how to follow Him. When I finished praying, there were tears streaming down my cheeks because I felt God had answered my prayers and was using me that day. When I looked up from my prayers, Linda was wiping her tears away as well. She took a breath, thanked me and stepped out of my car. At that time, I hadn’t started carrying a business card with my phone number or anything. It all happened so quickly, and it was strange to share so much in such a short time with a new Christian. Earlier in my life, I preached sermons every Sunday morning and Sunday evening for around 15 years. Each time the sermons were unique, and I believed I was sharing an important gem for those that came to sit in the pews in front of me each Sunday. I worked on a sermon for hours, even days. Now, here I was, sitting in my car, watching Linda walk away, and wondering if I had shared the right information. Was there something more I should have said? Was there something I should have done to be able to follow up? But I quickly felt the presence of God there in my car. THIS is what he wanted me to do. I was not responsible for the time limit I had to share with Linda. There seemed little doubt that God had led her into my car, and I had to trust that this was HIS moment, not mine, and I was simply a tool He used at the right time and place for His will. It was His path for me that led me to Linda. I also felt that Linda was touched by God that He had directed her to my car for this short Uber ride. I believed God would continue to bring people into her life to help her on this new walk with Him.