Turn Around

Warriors Arise: May 17th, 2020

"Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus." John 20:14

What made Mary turn around? Scripture does not tell us she heard anyone and I would think that having two angels in front you in a conversation would hold your attention. Maybe she knew they would not be able to answer her questions. Maybe she knew she didn't ask the right question/statement, "I do not know where they have laid Him". The angel earlier had told her Jesus is risen! He is alive. But it still all seemed outside of reality.

I wonder if the angels gestured for Mary to look behind her. Maybe in all of her contemplating, hearing the words come out of her mouth, she decided it was time to go. Jesus was no longer there. Maybe she needed to look elsewhere.

"She turns around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus." Just because we do not know it is Jesus standing with us, doesn't mean He isn't standing with us. She had to stop looking where He had been and start looking for where He is now. He was not in the tomb; He was outside of the tomb.

There are times when I know Jesus was involved in a situation but I didn't recognize it was Him until after it happened. Other times I recognized it while it was happening because something triggered inside of me or a phrase penetrated my mind and I knew it could only have happened because Jesus was there.

In the midst of this coronavirus pandemic people are still fighting real battles, having real changes that would have happened regardless of the pandemic. My oldest daughter came home for two weeks and we had wonderful family time. Monday she stopped by work and we had lunch together. I prayed for her trip back to Tulsa, where she had a job waiting for her. Six hours later her car breaks down (again for the twelfth time) on the side of the interstate. She walks into town to get oil, thinking that is what she needed. When she returned to the car, a policeman stopped, "Did you call 911?" He checked her oil, "You have added enough." Then he got a call and had to leave. A few minutes later another policeman stopped. Checked on her, and also left to attend a call. Within a few minutes the tow truck arrived. Our AAA policy is for the tow truck to take her within 90 miles but he was only going to go to the local AAA approved shop in Joplin, MO and dropped our daughter off at a motel. I posted on Facebook and many of you prayed. I am truly thankful for all of your prayers!

Interesting enough, God was already work. On Sunday, my 3rd grade teacher was talking with her neighbor. She wanted to clean out her garage and needed to sell her husband's car. He hadn't driven it since October. She needed the battery changed and her neighbor said he would take care of it for her. So Monday, BEFORE we knew our daughter needed a car, God started making a way for us.

My former teacher saw my post on Facebook, requesting prayers for our daughter. She contemplated letting me know she had a car to sell. The enemy can try to foil the plans the Lord is putting together. She wasn't going to let me know she had a car because of the thoughts went through her mind, "This probably isn't what they are looking for." "I don't have the car ready to sell." But another thought came into her mind, "Well, I'm never going to sell the car if I don't tell someone I'm selling it." God had the final say and she sent me a message.

Tuesday the folks who hired our daughter for the summer picked her up in Joplin and took her on to Tulsa. Wednesday, Scott and I went to look at the car. Thursday, we came home with a car for our daughter. God not only provided the car but He provided the money to pay for it before we knew we were going to have to buy a car. I know many people are talking about how they do not need the relief check and they are applying it to their next vacation. I dreamed of our next family vacation as well. I spent it a half dozen times on different trips in my mind. Admittedly, I was disappointed when we were faced with using it to buy our daughter a car but God. He knew we would need the money and He provided. I am so incredibly thankful.

I had to turn around, away from the pandemic and all its troubles. I had to turn around, away from the vacation plans I was making in my mind. I had to turn around and see Jesus, even if I didn't know it was Him. He was putting all this together for our good. My teacher had to turn around and move on selling the car. My former teacher had to turn around for help to get the car ready to sell. She had to turn around to see God was providing an easy sell if she would ready herself. She had to turn around to see God was going to help her sell this without any conflict or hassle. She turned around and Jesus was there, providing the help she needed to get it ready and a buyer to purchase it quickly.

Do you need to turn around? Even though you may not recognize Jesus, He is right in front of you.

I would like to ask for this specific post if you would ask God to show you where He has intervened in a situation in your life. See God at work on your behalf. Sure it cost me a car and money but God provided exactly what we needed. In the midst of this pandemic, Jesus is right there with you. He is walking us through the "next" in our lives. Even with all that people are facing with the pandemic some of us are still dealing with regular problems and need to turn around and see Jesus right where we are.

If you have a turn around Jesus intervention in your life or in your family will you share it in the comments? We build each other up by the word of our testimony. People need to know God is not too busy with the pandemic; Jesus still does house calls.

Father, I thank you for all you are doing. There is nothing too difficult for You. You can handle the pandemic, speaking to the researchers for a cure and vaccine as well as giving wisdom to the President and state governors guidance in decisions. At the same time, You see what I need and those around me. You still listen for what concerns my heart and the situations I face. Mary turned around, away from what was. She turned around and Jesus was right in front of her. I ask for each one on earth, to turn away from what was and turn to Jesus. I pray for the hearts and minds of people to seek You and Your ways that will get us through this pandemic. I pray for every person to know Jesus is right there behind them. I pray they will turn around and see Jesus. I ask for You to make Yourself known, lead each one of us in our day-to-day stresses of life and the next thing we are to do. I ask for You to visit You people and let Yourself be known. I ask for Your presence in our lives to be real, tangible, and demonstrative of Your love. In the midst of the pandemic, You care about our smallest needs and greatest concerns. You are Emanuel, God with us. Open our eyes so we can see You and know You are with us. When we see You, I pray we will praise Your name and glorify all You have done and are doing in our lives. You are for us and will be with us always in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.