“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us– yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17 NIV).
The new Taco Bell in Wilson is my favorite lunch time destination. I prefer to use the drive-thru. The service is quick and the price is cheap. I can pick up my three chicken tacos and be back at the office within minutes.
But when it first opened I had trouble with its new location. Everytime I would sit in my car waiting, I would have to look at the former Regal Theatre sitting vacant behind it, its “For Sale” sign prominently aimed my way.
I would sit there talking to myself, “Don’t even think about it. That property is way to expensive. You’ve already looked at it. They want too much. Besides, if God wanted us to have it. He would miraculously make it possible. So, just get your tacos and go back to work.”
This went on for months. I almost had to stop going to Taco Bell!
Then, the miraculous happened! We were able to purchase the $1.8 million dollar property for $285,000. Our members sacrificially gave over $75,000 in 40 days to close on the property. Now, we’re planning the remodel and working on cleanup. All of this happened in around 90 days. After nearly 19 years and then God makes all of this happen in 90 days!
I’m learning that no matter how hard we work and plan that real success is impossible without God’s favor. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that we should just sit around waiting for things to fall into our laps. We need to exercise the faith God has given us, planning and working as God directs. But more human effort and planning, working harder and harder, trying to control every detail, begins to have diminishing results. We wear out our minds and bodies and have less and less to show for it.
I mean, who could’ve planned to have the Taco Bell drive-thru built strategically, so that every Wilsonian who sits there waiting has to look at our 40 foot banner hanging on our new property proclaiming our future home? That’s a detail God planned. I didn’t even see that one coming. When we have God’s favor, He establishes the work of our hands.
I love sitting in the Taco Bell drive-thru now, looking at our new property, with its giant banner hanging across the front. I sit there thinking about how many hundreds will visit our church because they sat in their cars waiting for a taco and wondering about a church that meets in an old theatre.
“Can I take your order?” A voice calls over the outdoor kiosk, interrupting my daydreaming.
“Ah, yeah, let me have three chicken tacos.” I reply, with a smile on my face.
