Opportunities to show God’s goodness are all around us.  But, are our eyes open to see them?

As my grandmother says, “We never know who we might effect with even a smile.”  You see, God is always at work through us, but we also need to be courageous enough to play our part instead of idly sitting on the sidelines.

I’m reminded of the story of Kerry, whose mom pushed her relentlessly to go back to church.  Go back to God.  Go back!  Go back!!  But Kerry wouldn’t go.  My mom took a different approach.  She just hung out with Kerry.  When she finally did return to church, her mom asked what changed her mind?  It was her relationship with my mom.  Mom didn’t try to change her.  Rather, God changed Kerry through my mom, without either one realizing it until it was done.

Sometimes, we just don’t know what God is doing or how He is using us to do it.

But we can always ask.

We can ask to be used.

God can use something as simple as a nametag to develop a 20-minute conversation about His love towards gays and the Bible’s stance on sex at a Trader Joe’s checkout stand.

You see prayer can open up lots of opportunities.  It can open our eyes to God’s goodness, His answers and His tools.  Including some of His greatest tools:  you and me.