If God is for You
When we were trying to acquire our current facility, the former Compaq Center, there was one man I really wanted to get on our team. We needed to have the Houston City Council members vote for us because it was a city-owned facility. This one man knew all the people in the city. He was very influential. I thought if we could just get him on board, then surely we would get the votes that we needed. I called and called, but for some reason, he wouldn't call me back. I knew friends who knew him. They put in a good word for me. Still nothing. At one point, we got word back that this man was actively against us. He wasn't in neutral; he was on the opposing team! At that point, I realized I couldn't make this happen in my own strength. I quit trying to manipulate things and trying to convince everybody. I said, "God, it's in Your hands. I know You already have the right people lined up. I know You already have it figured out. So God, I'm just going to stay in that place of peace."
We needed ten votes from the City Council members. Two days before the main vote, we only had nine. But, a young Jewish councilmember that had been against us for two years suddenly changed his mind and voted for us. It was his vote that gave us the victory.
He told me later, "Joel, you were very persuasive, but you were not the reason that I changed my mind." He went on to tell about this elderly Jewish lady that called him out of the blue. He hadn't spoken to her in over 20 years, but he had great respect for her. He grew up with her. She told him in no uncertain terms that he was to vote for Lakewood having the Compaq Center. He said, "It was her phone call that changed my mind."
Now, I couldn't make that happen in my own strength, but God already had somebody lined up that could make it happen. The amazing thing is that I didn't know the woman and still don't. I never talked to her, never asked her to call. That was the hand of God orchestrating it all.
Friend, I'm asking you today to quit worrying about your future. Quit worrying about who you're going to meet. Quit being frustrated because somebody is not on your team. If God is for you, you will have the right connections. If God is for you, you will get the right breaks. If God is for you, who dare be against you? And friend, God is always for your good. You just keep doing your part to be faithful and obedient to Him. Learn to follow Him because He will lead you in the path of blessing, provision and everlasting life!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NKJV)
We needed ten votes from the City Council members. Two days before the main vote, we only had nine. But, a young Jewish councilmember that had been against us for two years suddenly changed his mind and voted for us. It was his vote that gave us the victory.
He told me later, "Joel, you were very persuasive, but you were not the reason that I changed my mind." He went on to tell about this elderly Jewish lady that called him out of the blue. He hadn't spoken to her in over 20 years, but he had great respect for her. He grew up with her. She told him in no uncertain terms that he was to vote for Lakewood having the Compaq Center. He said, "It was her phone call that changed my mind."
Now, I couldn't make that happen in my own strength, but God already had somebody lined up that could make it happen. The amazing thing is that I didn't know the woman and still don't. I never talked to her, never asked her to call. That was the hand of God orchestrating it all.
Friend, I'm asking you today to quit worrying about your future. Quit worrying about who you're going to meet. Quit being frustrated because somebody is not on your team. If God is for you, you will have the right connections. If God is for you, you will get the right breaks. If God is for you, who dare be against you? And friend, God is always for your good. You just keep doing your part to be faithful and obedient to Him. Learn to follow Him because He will lead you in the path of blessing, provision and everlasting life!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NKJV)