For years, I have whined, cried, fussed, pleaded, and even prayed over the unredeemed state of many of my loved ones. So, when our church planned its yearly women's retreat to be held near UC-San Diego, I recognized an opportunity and called my 19-year-old niece who studies there.

"Michelle, let's get together. Three of your cousins will be coming with me to a women's retreat near the campus. We'd love to meet you for dinner on Friday night. Great! See you then."

During dinner, we invited Michelle to join us for our meeting that evening. She agreed. I could barely contain my excitement. I had prayed for Michelle since she was born but had never seen the gospel make an inroad with her.

On our way to the meeting and during the worship time, I prayed silently and fervently, Jesus, you know how much I love Michelle. Please call on her tonight. Meet her here. Touch her life in an unforgettable, inescapable way! I prayed on and on, even rehearsing all her worthy attributes, life history, and reasons she needed God right now this very instant.

The Holy Spirit interrupted my impassioned intercession: "Linda, I am not the ambassador of your love. You are the ambassador of my love. I sent you as my ambassador to invite Michelle to come. My plans of love are already in place."

Prayers of love are generated from God's heart. They only agree with his purpose: to save, to deliver, to help and strengthen. This is his work on earth, and I am to be his ambassador, waiting to carry out instructions, instead of giving God so many instructions! I relaxed and joined the worship with my whole heart, anticipating the fulfillment of his loving mercy in my niece's life.

Though Michelle had never before attended a Christian church, she lifted her hands to God during worship and smiled as she sang. Later, the speaker ministered to her personally and led her in a prayer of salvation and surrender, while her three cousins and I cried and laughed with the joy of a new birth.

After the meeting, Michelle immediately went to a phone and called her boyfriend: "Nathan, I met Jesus! You've got to come and meet him here tomorrow night! Oh yeah, and I want you to meet my aunt and cousins, too."

Nathan must love Michelle, because the next day, he bravely accompanied her to the women's retreat. As our meeting began, I asked him to sit with us in the front row (so he could try to forget that he was the lone male in a room full of women).

Nathan listened intently to the minister. Later he told us he had often prayed for answers and our women's minister seemed to address every question and need he had presented to God. He came forward to publicly accept forgiveness and a new life.

Michelle and Nathan glowed with joy. After our services, they made plans to attend a church they had been invited to numerous times. I prayed for them and later sent them Bibles and music CDs.

My beloved niece Michelle had gained eternal life and more. God, in his extravagant love, had already directed her to a church where she could continue her new life. Knowing her highly social personality, he also gave her a partner to go with her. His plans were complete and perfect for Michelle, far better than any instructions I had to offer.

I'm glad this wasn't my plan. I'm just the ambassador.

The only problem with God's plan is that when Nathan gives his testimony, he will have to somehow explain that he received salvation at a retreat for women.

Linda Riley is director of Called Together Ministries in Torrance, California.

Originally published in Leadership journal, July 1, 1998.

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail ljeditor@leadershipjournal.net.

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