Perhaps you’ve heard the term “divine appointments.” Dennis Rainey describes them as “supernaturally scheduled meetings.” I agree, and am a firm believer that many of life’s inconveniences involve divine appointments with people the Lord brings into our lives—if only we open our eyes to see them.

God appoints the times and places we live, and is a Master of the exact timing that creates the beauty of divine appointments. Over the years I’ve had them in stores and restaurants and on streets and taxis and airplanes.

Scripture tells us that God is intimately involved in His children’s days:

• “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
• “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23).
• “Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).
• “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26).

So don’t assume that when your plans get changed that your day is ruined. The unexpected encounter or conversation, sometimes appearing to very inconvenient, is exactly where God has called you, for purposes that may not be obvious at first, but later will be. (Sometimes much later, as in when we’re with the Lord.)

In this video, excerpted from the Q&A panel session at the 2007 Desiring God National Conference, I tell several stories of divine appointments.

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