SPIRITUAL: 5 Days of Inspiration for a Spirit-Led LifeSample

DAY 2 - NO COINCIDENCE

Todd and Donna Rowan woke up early in their condominium, took pictures of the sunrise, drank some coffee, hopped on their beach cruisers and rode to Croatan just north of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

They walked barefoot along the beach watching surfers riding huge waves from a recent hurricane. It was a perfect morning but in an instant everything changed. Todd fell face-first into the sand. Donna screamed his name and asked God to please help him.

Tyler Volpe had been surfing and was in the water when Todd collapsed. Tyler is a physician assistant who was eager to surf that morning. He was enjoying it so much that he stayed nearly two hours longer than he had planned. When he heard the scream, he knew something was wrong.

He jumped out of the water and sprinted toward Todd. Volpe saw that Todd was blue and started chest compressions. Two men lifted Todd’s legs to his increase circulation. A woman put her arm around Donna and prayed with her.

The tide was coming in and surfers used their boards to keep the water away from the rescue. Someone called 911 and Tyler kept Todd alive until the ambulance arrived. Todd had gone into cardiac arrest and the paramedics used a defibrillator to restore his heartbeat. And he regained consciousness.

Cardiac arrest can kill within minutes. Chances of survival increase with immediate help. Todd and Donna had planned to leave that morning and drive back to their home in New Jersey. But they decided to take a walk on the beach before they left.

Todd’s cardiac arrest would have happened while he was driving. Instead, he was taken to the hospital and had quadruple bypass surgery. He is recovering and regaining his strength.

There are no coincidences with God. It is not luck or fate but God’s Spirit at work in our lives. Tyler was at the beach that day by divine appointment. His medical training was crucial and he stayed longer for a higher purpose. Todd and Donna didn’t leave and drive home because the Spirit prompted them to stay.

Galatians 5:16 tells us, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” The Spirit directed Tyler and Todd whether they were aware of it or not. God works best in our lives when we are aware of his guiding and leading. When we understand he is supernaturally communicating with us.

Look today for how the Spirit may be guiding you. Realize he is at work for a reason. Let him bless you or use you to bless others.