"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Very recently, a bright young man began his college career on a full athletic scholarship. His sport was diving and, along with his being an excellent student, he was bound for the upcoming Summer Olympics. Having been raised an atheist, he never much thought about God. The young man simply thought of faith as an irrelevant issue in his life.
Things were going so well, who needed God?
This is what he told his friend, another diver on the team who was a Christian. His friend was the only Christian influence in the young man’s life, but he never paid much attention to his frequent sermons.
One night the young, promising diver went to the indoor pool at his college. Being the top diver on the team he had 24/7 access to the pool for practice. He was eager to get started. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board for his first dive. Alone in the great cavernous space, he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out. Then he it; his shadow on the wall
The shadow of his body was in the shape of a cross.
That’s when he felt the great love and protection wash over him and inside his heart. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. As the young man stood, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights
on.
The pool had been drained for repairs.
As you begin the new year, I want to remind you of some very important facts:
- If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
- If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
- He sends you flowers every spring.
- He sends you a sunrise every morning.
- Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
- He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose your heart.
Just face it. Jesus is crazy about you! He is always by your side, watching you and holding onto you. Never forget that if you are on your knees in prayer, you are in no danger. So here is what I want you to do: be that friend to someone who does not believe. Tell them about your Jesus. Show them what it’s like to be a compassionate and loving person in the Lord. Because one of these days, your friend, you know, the one who does not believe in God, is going to be standing above an empty pool . . .
And when that moment comes for them, will your words echo in their ears before they jump?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for always being with me through thick and thin. Thank you for being by my side in times of trouble and triumph. And thank you for saving me from myself. Whenever I need You, You are there. Give me the strength and love to share Your guidance, Your love and Your grace with those around me, so that they will have what You have given me. Amen.Hide all
