“I wish I had a relationship with God like that.”

The young woman looked at me and seemed to be expecting a response. So I complied. I took several moments to explain to her how that could become a reality for her.

Several months back I was out on the west coast visiting my father. Dad resides in a Memory Care Center in the town I grew up in and the caregivers there are truly wonderful. I love that it’s a secure facility. 

One day I was told that the new General Manager there had changed all the access codes, desiring to tighten up security since he apparently felt that things had become a bit lax and various people were coming and going without much oversight. I had been given the previous code months earlier and had grown accustomed to just letting myself in and out of the building at will…so I was likely part of the problem!

A few days later I was getting ready to exit the building after visiting with dad, and there wasn’t a caregiver in sight to assist me. I looked around. Nobody. I’d been told that the new protocol was to ask one of them to come to the exit door, enter the new code, and let me out. But nobody came. So I just stood there staring at the keypad. 

Then it happened…

God told me the new code.

Surprised, I looked around again, shrugged, entered the new code, and let myself out.

Well, the next day when I arrived the caregivers were all huddled together in the dining area, pointing at me when I walked in, looks of concern on their faces. They immediately motioned for me to come over, so I did. 

“Steve, we found out that you left the building yesterday on your own. That’s not allowed anymore. WE are supposed to let you out now. So we need to know … who gave you the new code? They weren’t authorized to do that.”

I paused. “Lord, do I tell them?”

“Yes.” It was unmistakable.

“Well, ladies, here’s what happened…GOD told me the new code.”

Blank stares. Then wide grins. “Oh, come on now. You need to tell us. We need to know which caregiver gave it to you. They’re gonna be in trouble.”

“I am telling you the truth. The Lord gave me the code when I was standing there and couldn’t find any of you to let me out.”

They shook their heads. “We don’t believe that. Will you just please tell us how you got the code?”

I looked them right in the eyes. “I’m not kidding. I have a relationship with the Lord and He evidently wanted me to know the code because He shared it with me in that moment. That’s what actually happened.”

They looked at each other, shrugged, and resignedly said, “Whatever.” And went about their business.

Except for one of them. She followed me and expressed curiosity.

“You said you have a relationship with God?”

“Yes.”

She grinned, “Could you please ask Him to add a few zeros to my bank account balance?” We both chuckled.

“So… how did you know it was God?”

“Well, I’ve been reading His book, the Bible, for 45 years. That’s where I learned how God sounds. We can learn His Voice through reading His Word. So when I was standing there at the door and that code came to my mind, I knew it was Him. I know that Voice.”

“Wow,” she said, thinking it over. Then,

“I wish I had a relationship with God like that.”

“You can,” I replied. “God actually did everything that was needed to make it possible.”

It was immediately obvious to me that the Lord had orchestrated this

entire scenario for this purpose—so that I could share with this curious and spiritually open young caregiver how God loves her and made it possible for her to know Him, to walk and talk with Him, and to hear His Voice. It was a sweet conversation, and I got to speak with her about Jesus. I’m sure she took it all to heart.

Driving back to the house I couldn’t help but think, What a precious gift it is, Lord, to be able to actually have a relationship with You, the Mighty God, my Father the King, Who knows everything about everyone, and loves every single person. Thank you for that divine appointment!

Yes, knowing The Lord is a priceless privilege indeed!