*16 THE PERFECT VEHICLE
One of the prayers I pray almost every morning before leaving my house is simple:
"Lord, if there is someone You desire for me to encounter today, reveal it to me. I am surrendered."
I truly believe that in a world this large, filled with billions of people who were all created by God, there is always someone who needs encouragement, prayer, or the hope found in Jesus.
Some days, I come home without having what I would call a meaningful encounter.
If I'm honest, I can be hard on myself. Not from a place of shame, but from a desire to be more available to God. It's similar to finishing a game without scoring any points. It doesn't necessarily mean you played poorly—you just wish you had pushed a little harder or stayed in the game a little longer.
But then faith gently reminds me, "There will be another opportunity."
Over time, God has shown me something important: not every day is meant for me to minister to someone else.
Sometimes, He is ministering to me.
Sometimes, the work He wants to accomplish is happening within my own heart. Other times, someone else is assigned to the person I thought I was supposed to reach. God is orchestrating countless divine appointments every day, often through people who don't even realize they are being used by Him.
Our responsibility is not to force encounters.
Our responsibility is simply to remain available.
And there are many days when God does open a door.
Sometimes He prompts me to encourage someone. Other times He asks me to pray for someone, speak a word of kindness, or simply start a conversation that eventually leads to the Gospel.
The beautiful thing is that discipleship doesn't always look dramatic.
Sometimes it's saying, "God bless you" as you leave an appointment.
Sometimes it's responding with, "God is good" while ordering a coffee.
Sometimes it's the shirt you're wearing that sparks a conversation about Jesus.
And sometimes it's an hour-long discussion about salvation, purpose, and the love of Christ.
I've learned that our primary assignment as believers is not to always create opportunities, but to walk in obedience when they come.
That posture begins in prayer.
It begins in the Word.
It begins with surrendering our agenda and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.
When we allow Him to disciple us, He can then disciple others through us.
A few days ago, I experienced one of those special days where God opened multiple doors for conversation.
The first encounter happened at brunch.
A woman approached our table and complimented me. I thanked her and naturally responded, "God bless you." The conversation opened from there.
It was brief, but there was such warmth, kindness, and gratitude exchanged between us. You can often sense when Jesus is present in a conversation. There is a peace and love that transcends ordinary interaction.
As we spoke, I felt the Holy Spirit impress something on my heart:
"She was drawn to the light she saw."
It reminded me that before we ever speak a word, people often notice something different about a life that is surrendered to Christ. Not perfection—but His presence.
Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. When we consistently walk with Him, His light becomes visible through us.
The second encounter happened just a few hours later.
As I got into my Uber, the driver asked how I was doing.
I answered and returned the question.
His response was, "Fantabulous."
I smiled and said, "Amen."
He was talkative, and I immediately sensed the Holy Spirit nudging me to engage with him.
We began talking about life, work, and why we were both in Los Angeles. He shared that a friend had been encouraging him to move to Utah, suggesting it would be a better place to raise a family. Yet he felt conflicted and discouraged by the pressure.
Without thinking much about it, I responded:
"What's most important isn't where you move. It's being where God has called you to be."
I watched his entire demeanor change.
There was immediate peace.
So I asked him if he was a believer.
He took off his sunglasses, looked at me through the rearview mirror, with a cross tattoo under his eye and said, "Yes."
What followed was one of the most encouraging conversations I've had in a long time. After scanning his body full of tattoos, some more obvious than others I saw that he clearly was in a gang.
He shared that although he desired to go deeper with God, his foundation was firmly in Christ. He had accepted Jesus and knew that without Him, he wouldn't be alive today.
As we talked, it became clear that he had walked through a difficult past. Yet his love for Jesus was genuine. He knew Scripture. He had raised his children to know Christ. And despite the mistakes behind him, I could see the hand of God on his life.
Then the Holy Spirit revealed something that I felt compelled to share.
I told him:
"You may not realize it, but this season of driving for Uber is divinely appointed."
He looked surprised.
I continued:
"Every single day, dozens of people get into your vehicle from every imaginable background. Different stories. Different struggles. Different needs. And among those people, there is always someone who needs to encounter Jesus."
At that moment, his face lit up.
What he had viewed as simply a job, God was revealing as a ministry.
His vehicle had become his mission field.
His driver's seat had become a platform for evangelism.
I encouraged him to stop seeing it just as transportation and start seeing it as an assignment from God.
The joy and confidence that came over him was incredible to witness.
His name was Saul.
And I couldn't help but smile at the significance of that.
Just as the Saul of New Testament Scripture experienced an encounter that forever changed his identity, I sensed God was continuing to write a powerful testimony in this man's life.
By the end of our conversation, he wasn't just being encouraged,he was encouraging me.
Jesus was undeniably present.
I share this story for anyone who feels like they aren't doing enough for the Kingdom.
Maybe you've been praying for opportunities to share your faith.
Or you've been wondering whether God can use you.
The answer is yes.
He can use a conversation.
He can use a compliment.
He can use a coffee shop.
He can use an Uber.
He can use a simple act of obedience.
God is not asking us to always create the opportunities. He is asking us to remain available.
Galatians 2:20 reminds us that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
The more we surrender ourselves to Him, the more we become vessels through which His love, grace, and truth can flow.
So today, I pray that God would give you boldness.
I pray that He would open your eyes to the opportunities already around you.
And I pray that you would never underestimate what He can do through a willing heart.
Because when we are obedient to His prompting, no act of faithfulness is ever too small.
And sometimes, the very thing you thought was ordinary becomes the perfect vehicle for God to reach someone else.
PRAYER-
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for your Holy Spirit and the ability to have oneness and partnership with you. I pray for boldness to fall on me like never before, that propels me to spread the gospel like your word tells us to do. I rebuke any bit of shame or fear that would hinder me to move forward and give words of encouragement, wisdom, and love to others that need to hear it. Let my life in every aspect glorify you. Lead me to at least one person today Lord. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.